Question
- Two forces act an angle of
. If the greater force is 50 kg and their
resultant is perpendicular to the smaller force, the smaller force is
A. 20 kg
B. 25 kg
C. 30 kg
D. 35 kg
resultant is perpendicular to the smaller force, the smaller force is
A. 20 kg
B. 25 kg
C. 30 kg
D. 35 kg
Ask by Brooks Thornton. in Nigeria
Jan 20,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
The smaller force is 25 kg.
Solution
To solve this problem, let’s analyze the forces using vector components.
Given:
- Two forces act at an angle of
. - The greater force
is 50 kg. - The resultant force
is perpendicular to the smaller force .
Objective:
Find the magnitude of the smaller force .
Find the magnitude of the smaller force
Approach:
-
Vector Representation:
- Assume
is along the x-axis: . -
makes a angle with :
- Assume
-
Resultant Force (
): -
Perpendicular Condition:
- The resultant
is perpendicular to . - For two vectors to be perpendicular, their dot product must be zero:
- The resultant
-
Solving for
: -
is not a valid physical solution in this context. - Therefore,
kg.
-
Answer:
B. 25 kg
B. 25 kg
Answered by UpStudy AI and reviewed by a Professional Tutor
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Mind Expander
To find the smaller force, we can use the law of cosines. Given that the forces form an angle of
and the resultant is perpendicular to the smaller force, we can apply the relationship involving vector addition of forces. Using the formula:
and knowing that
is equal to the smaller force
when it’s perpendicular, we can set up our equations to solve for
.
After calculations, we find
kg. Thus, the answer is B. 25 kg!
Remember, always make sure to keep track of the angle’s cosine values when dealing with forces at angles to avoid any slip-ups in your calculations!