Q = 60 N 25 A 20 P = 40 N

SAMPLE PROBLEM 2.1

The two forces P and Q act on a bolt A. Determine their resultant.

SOLUTION
R

Q P a

Graphical Solution. A parallelogram with sides equal to P and Q is drawn to scale. The magnitude and direction of the resultant are measured and found to be R 5 98 N a 5 35 R 5 98 N a35

The triangle rule may also be used. Forces P and Q are drawn in tip-totail fashion. Again the magnitude and direction of the resultant are measured. R 5 98 N a 5 35 R 5 98 N a35

R Q

Trigonometric Solution. The triangle rule is again used; two sides and the included angle are known. We apply the law of cosines. R2 5 P2 1 Q2 2 2PQ cos B R2 5 (40 N)2 1 (60 N)2 2 2(40 N)(60 N) cos 155 R 5 97.73 N Now, applying the law of sines, we write sin A sin B 5 Q R
C

sin A sin 155 60 5 N 97.73 N (60 N) sin 155 97.73 N

(1)

Solving Eq. (1) for sin A, we have

R 155 a 20 B P = 40 N 25 Q = 60 N

sin A 5

Using a calculator, we first compute the quotient, then its arc sine, and obtain A 5 15.04 a 5 20 1 A 5 35.04 We use 3 significant figures to record the answer (cf. Sec. 1.6): R 5 97.7 N a35.0
C

Q = 60 N R B A a 20 40 54.38 94.38 25

25.36 D

Alternative Trigonometric Solution. We construct the right triangle BCD and compute CD 5 (60 N) sin 25 5 25.36 N BD 5 (60 N) cos 25 5 54.38 N Then, using triangle ACD, we obtain tan A 5 25.36 N 94.38 N 25.36 R5 sin A

A 5 15.04
R 5 97.73 N R 5 97.7 N a35.0

Again,

a 5 20 1A 5 35.04

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