What is the magnitude of the third force?

Force, resultant, magnitude, direction?

  • "A force of 20 N acts toward the east. Another force of 27 N acts at the same point toward the west. What is the magnitude and direction of a third force that produces a resultant of 10 N toward the east?" I know you have to draw a graph (but you could explain the drawing of one) and how exactly do you find the magnitude?

  • Answer:

    You want a 10N resultant force towards the east. Let the unknown force required be XN Use direction East as +. Then direction West = -. Add up the forces: +20 -27 +X = +10 X = +10 -20 +27 X = +37 -20 X = +17 The third force must have a magnitude of 17N , and because it is positive in the calculation , its direction must be to the east.

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You want a 10N resultant force towards the east. Let the unknown force required be XN Use direction East as +. Then direction West = -. Add up the forces: +20 -27 +X = +10 X = +10 -20 +27 X = +37 -20 X = +17 The third force must have a magnitude of 17N , and because it is positive in the calculation , its direction must be to the east.

Trevor H

When forces act in opposite directions, they cancel. Think of a tug of war. In this case there are only east and west forces. All we have to do is add and subtract. If forces to the east are positive (the convention), forces to the west must be negative. +20 - 27 + X = 10 => -7 + X = 10 => X = 17N

oldschool

When forces act in opposite directions, they cancel. Think of a tug of war. In this case there are only east and west forces. All we have to do is add and subtract. If forces to the east are positive (the convention), forces to the west must be negative. +20 - 27 + X = 10 => -7 + X = 10 => X = 17N

oldschool

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