Question

When a boy pulls his sled with a rope, the rope makes an angle of 70 with the horizontal. If a pull of 16 pounds on the rope is needed to move the sled, what is the horizontal component force?

Answer 1

The horizontal component of force is 5.47 lb

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that a boy pulls his sled with a rope.

The rope makes an angle with horizontal = 70 degree

If a pull on the rope is needed to move the sled = 16 pounds

We need to find the horizontal component of force

In given scenario, the force used in this scenario is a vector addition of the horizontal and the vertical force component. The horizontal force component is calculated by multiplying the applied force by the cosine of the angle of the applied force from the horizontal plane in which it is found:                     horizontal force component = applied force x cos 70 degree

Horizontal component force = $f \cos \alpha$

Here, given applied force, f = 16 pounds

Then, horizontal component of force =  $16 \cos 70^{\circ}$

Horizontal component of force = 16×0.342

Hence, horizontal component of force = 5.47 lb