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A level maths mechanics question

Two forces, A and B, act on a particle. Force A has magnitude 6N and force B has magnitude 5N. The angle between the directions of A and B is 50degrees. work out:

a. the magnitude of the resultant of the two forces
b. the angle between force A and the resultant.

I know that you can use the resultant force formula to find it, but it doesn't appear anywhere on A-level maths, so I don't know what else to use for it. Thanks!

Reply 1

Original post by feimma
Two forces, A and B, act on a particle. Force A has magnitude 6N and force B has magnitude 5N. The angle between the directions of A and B is 50degrees. work out:
a. the magnitude of the resultant of the two forces
b. the angle between force A and the resultant.
I know that you can use the resultant force formula to find it, but it doesn't appear anywhere on A-level maths, so I don't know what else to use for it. Thanks!

Sounds like they want you to draw a triangle with A, B and resultant on there and use one of the usual triangle formulae. Though it would almost be as easy/similar to resolve B parallel and perpendicular to A, then form a right triangle.
(edited 1 year ago)

Reply 2

Original post by mqb2766
Sounds like they want you to draw a triangle with A, B and resultant on there and use one of the usual triangle formulae. Though it would almost be as easy/similar to resolve B parallel and perpendicular to A, then form a right triangle.

Hey! Thanks for your help, I get it now, I forget about trying to put them into triangles a lot.

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