Question

During a wind storm, two guy wires supporting a tree are under tension. One guy wire is inclined at an angle of 35 degrees and under 500 N of tension. The other other wire is inclined at 40 degrees to the horizontal and is under 400 N of tension. Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on the guy wires

Answer 1

Resultant Vector: 554 N in the angle 80 degrees with the horizontal.


First, we must put each given in Polar form:
1. 500 N in the angle of 35 degrees with the horizontal
2. 400 N in the angle of 140 degrees with the horizontal in the same direction of the first guy wire (counterclockwise direction)

Then, add up the two polar forms, and it would give 553.59 in the angle of 79.26 with horizontal- counterclockwise direction. As estimated, 554 N in the direction of 80 degrees North of East.