You should now have an understanding of how to
find components but perhaps don't realize their full usefulness. Let's
return to the examples from the previous activity.
In the first example, one boy was pulling from the right with 100 N
while the other boy was pulling from the left with 80 N. Use the
definitions you have just seen to find the x and y components of each
of the boys' force vectors. Once you have done this, find the
resultant vector. You can do this by simply adding the corresponding
components to find the components of the resultant vector. Your answer
should not surprise you as you have probably already figured it out in
your head.
In the second example, however, the resultant is harder to find. You
can not simply add the magnitudes of the two vectors, since they lie
in different directions. Instead you must find the components of each
(in this case each vector will have an x and y component) and combine
them to find the resultant.
In the second case where one boy
is pulling 100 N at 19
o and the other boy is pulling with
80 N at 167
o, find the following results:
- The components of each force vector.
- The components of the resultant vector.
- The magnitude and angle of inclination of the resultant.
When you are finished go back to the
eyemount activity and compare your
results with those generated by the applet.