Vectors question

Hi,
I thought I had a good understanding of vectors, but I have really been struggling to draw this question and didn't understand the mark scheme.
Screenshot 2025-01-28 143323.png

I know (at least I think) that you have to draw the other 2 forces to scale and the line between the start and end point should be equal to the force U, because its in equilibrium. It seems though that the forces used on the mark scheme are not the ones from the question, and they have made the forces that are perpendicular to the pole into vertical forces. It has really confused me honestly.
Screenshot 2025-01-28 145052.png

Could someone please help me out a little bit, or point me in the right direction.

Reply 1

Eimmanuel

Study Forum Helper

Original post by bertielarter

Hi,
I thought I had a good understanding of vectors, but I have really been struggling to draw this question and didn't understand the mark scheme.
Screenshot 2025-01-28 143323.png

Could someone please help me out a little bit, or point me in the right direction.

The mark scheme is good. You can check using the cosine rule.

First of all, do you know the angle between the vertical downward and the force D?

Spoiler

To draw this scale diagram, you can draw the vertical downward force of magnitude 31 N (say 6.2 cm using 1cm rep 5 N) and measure an angle of 140° from the vertical in clockwise direction and draw the force D of magnitude 53 N (10.6 cm using 1cm rep 5 N).
You can connect the head of D to the tail of 31 N to draw U.