First, you need to make certain assumptions before solving this question. Why? Because there are no information given about the direction of these forces. In such questions as above, ALWAYS make the following assumptions:
1) Take first force, say
, and assume that it is pointing towards the x-direction.
Let us take the 7N force! By keeping the above assumption in our minds, the force vector would be like:
=
, where
= Unit vector in the x-direction.
2) Take the second force, say
, and assume that it is making an angle
with the first force
.
Let us take the 15N force! By keeping the above assumption in our minds, the forces vector would be like:
Now from simple vector addition, we know that,
--- (A)
Where
= Resultant vector.
NOTE: In equation (A), all forces are in vector notation. Assume that there is an arrow head on top of them.
Let us find
first!
=
=>
=
Now the magnitude of
is,
|
| =
=> |
| =
Since
, therefore,
=> |
| =
Since |
| = |
|, and the magnitude of the resultant force is 20N, therefore,
|
| = |
|
20 =
Take square on both sides,
400 =
Ans: Angle formed by the two forces, 7N and 15N, is: 53.13°
-israr
