Use Cosine/Sine Law to find resultant vector?

USE COSINE/SINE LAW METHOD FOR THIS QUESTION: Three people are participating in a three way
tug-o-war. One person is pulling with a force of 500N at 30 degree Cartesian and another is ...show more
Update : I WANT USING LAW OF SIGNS OR COSINES!!!! NOT X Y COMPONENTS
Update 2: Steve: I thank you for your reply. My teacher want me to solve it in 2 ...show more
Best Answer

Steve answered 4 years ago

Fx = 500*cos30 + 1400*cos260 = 189.905 N
Fy = 500*sin30 + 1400*sin260 = -1128.731 N
Ergo, the balancing load must have these same values with the sign reversed:

Fx3 = -189.905 N
Fy3 = +1128.731 N

F3 = [Fx3 + Fy3] = 1144.595 N
= arctan[Fy3/Fx3] = -80.45
36) Calculate the sum of vectors using law of
cosines and component methods.
Edit 1 8



HOW TO:
Calculate the sum of vectors using law of cosines and component
methods.

I chose this topic because it allowed the class to discover how to use
simple trig in the real world. I also chose this topic so I could better
explore the component method, seeing as it was difficult to grasp
visually. Hopefully the visuals provided in the video help to better
your understanding, because it definitely helped me.


What you need to know:


Vector: a quantity that has a magnitude as well as direction



Simple Trig: Law of Sines, Law of Cosines, and (SohCahToa) rules

To Begin: Watch this video as a thorough explanation of the topic!
If it helps, it is recommended that you follow along with the running example throughout
the video. This way you have hard notes and a decent example to look back at.


CLICK ME!!!
36) Calculate the sum of vectors using law of cosines and component methods.










Let's sum up the Component Method in words and Simple Steps!






http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/vector-addition - use this tool that was available to us to practice
and understand the component method better


Now Let's Sum up Law of Cosine in a few simple steps!



NOW LET'S PRACTICE SOME PROBLEMS!



Let's Try an Example of Both Law of Cosines and Component Method.
This written out may help you understand.

Law of COSINE

ANSWER

ANGLE TIME
Challenge Alert! Try Component Method on your own. The answers are given above using Law of
Cosine, so you are able to check. Look at the steps above, or the video explanation if you need
help.

CHOOSE WHICH METHOD IS BEST FOR OUR NEXT EXAMPLE.




Please try before reading on.





YOU GUESSED IT!!
Component Method would be the optimum way to solve for the Resultant Vector.

TIP: Many people get hung up on finding the right triangles while doing component method. If you
can't visualize it, then just focus on the components. This is what helped me the most in this
section. Look above at component steps for help with the equations.

This problem is a good example of simply using the components without a confusing picture. In this case,
there are three sides (components) added together.


Angle Time:





Portfolio Problems

These problems aren't meant to be extremely challenging, the point is to gain understanding.

One problem using Law of Cosine
One problem using Component Method






X- and Y-Components of a Force Vector
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This article discusses the x- and y-
components of a force vector. Understand
that the diagrams and mathematics here could be applied
to any type of vector such as a displacement, velocity, or
acceleration vector.
For an understanding of vectors see the Vectors section
of the Physics Department.
For an understanding of right triangle trigonometry see
the Trigonometry and Right Triangles section of the
Trigonometry Realms.
When you are finished with the material here, be sure to
visit the Force Component Machine. It will show you how
the positive and negative signs for the force components
work for any direction that the two dimensional force
vector may be pointing.


The two dimensional force vector
A force vector can be expressed in two dimensions on
the (x, y) plane. For example, imagine the surface of a
table top to be an (x, y) plane. Objects can be pushed
across this table surface in several different directions, not
just parallel to the length or width of the table. Objects can
be pushed across a table top at a slanted direction relative
to the edges of the table top. In the animation below we
see several different directions in which you could push an
object across a table top, or the several directions one can
apply a force to an object on an (x, y) plane. The object
being pushed is the green disk, and the force vector is the
black arrow:

Force vectors like the one shown above are said to be two
dimensional force vectors. You can think of them as forces
that have a part that pushes right or left, and that have
another part that pushes up or down. These parts of the
force are called the components of the force. The
component that pushes right or left is called the x-
component, and the part that pushes up or down is called
the y-component.


Force components and shadows
Mathematically, the components act like shadows of the
force vector on the coordinate axes.
In the picture directly below we see a force vector on the
(x, y) plane. The force vector is white, the x-axis is red, the
y-axis is green, the origin is white. It is common to position
force vectors like this with their tails at the origin. The light
in this picture is shining directly into the (x, y) plane, and
we see no shadows from this view. For our purposes here
the axes and vector are drawn unusually wide; they are
normally drawn as thin lines in diagrams.

The vector on the (x, y) plane

Right below is the same scene from another viewpoint.
The light is now shining directly from above. That is, the
light is shining straight down parallel to the y-axis. Note
the shadow of the vector on the x-axis. This shadow
represents the x-component of the force vector.

The x-component

Next, below, we have the same situation except the
direction of the light has changed. The light now is shining
from the right, parallel to the x-axis. A shadow of the force
vector can be seen on the y-axis. This shadow,
mathematically, is the y-component of the force vector.

The y-component


Force vector component diagrams
We are back to a flat surface diagram below; it shows how
these components can be drawn.
The black vector is the two dimensional force vector,
labeled F.
The red vector is the x-component of the force vector,
labeled Fx. It would be pronounced 'F sub x'. Since 'x' is
actually a subscript, this notation usually looks like this:

However, in Zona Land Education the subscript's position
is often implied, as here, hopefully without any loss of
meaning.
The green vector is the y-component of the force vector,
labeled Fy, pronounced 'F sub y'.

The components of the force vector can also be arranged
this way, forming a right triangle:



Force vector component mathematics
If we know the size of the two dimensional force vector,
the black one in the above diagram, and the angle it
makes with the x-axis, then we can use right triangle
trigonometry to find the values for the components.
In the following diagram 'A' is the angle that the two
dimensional force vector makes with the x-axis. Using
right triangle trigonometry, Fx is adjacent to angle A, Fy is
opposite to angle A, and F is the hypotenuse, as:



Unusual diagram
The above diagram shows how the trigonometry is usually
presented - the cosine function is associated with the x-
component and the sine function is associated with
the y-component. However, it is not the only way to think
about it. The following is a legitimate vector diagram for
this force vector, but the x-component is calculated with
the sine function, the y-component with the cosine. Note
we are using angle B now; it's a different angle:

Remember, the diagram and formula derivation above,
although correct within its own context, is unusual as far
common textbook examples are concerned. They are
usually set up to solve for the x-component using the
cosine function and the y-component using the sine, as
was presented originally with angle 'A'. There is good
reason for this. If the direction of the force vector is given
in standard position, as angle A could be interpreted, then
the original derivations give correct results.


The sign of the components
The x-component of the force vector can be positive or
negative.
If it points to the right, it is positive.
If it points to the left, it is negative.
The y-component of the force vector can be positive or
negative.
If it points up, it is positive.
If it points down, it is negative.
When right triangle trigonometry is used, you need to
consult your vector diagram to decide which way the
components are pointing and then assign the correct sign
to your calculated values as a last step in your solution.
The right triangle trigonometry as presented here will
always yield positive results. It is really only solving for
the lengths of the legs of a right triangle, as one might do
in Geometry studies.


Is F ever negative?
F, the value for the size of the two dimensional force
vector, is always stated as a positive number.


Problem example
An object is pushed across a table top with a force of 16.6
N directed 32.7 degrees S of E. What are the x- and y-
components of this force?
Here is the diagram:

This is the solution:

Solving for the x-component, Fx:


Right triangle trigonometry: The cosine of an
acute interior angle of a right triangle is equal to
the length of the adjacent side to the angle
divided by the length of the hypotenuse.

Use the length of the force vectors as the lengths
of the adjacent side and hypotenuse. Fx is the
adjacent side, F is the hypotenuse.

Algebra: Multiply both sides by F.

Algebra: F's cancel on the right side.

Algebra: Switch left and right sides.

Plug in values.

Cosine of 32.7 degrees is 0.8415.

Multiply, result stated in significant figures.

Final result stated with units. Note the positive
value of the final result. It is positive because this
is an x-component, and in the diagram it is aimed
to the right. As usual with numbers, the plus sign
is optional.

Solving for the y-component, Fy:


Right triangle trigonometry: The sine of an acute
interior angle of a right triangle is equal to the
length of the opposite side to the angle divided by
the length of the hypotenuse.

Use the length of the force vectors as the lengths
of the opposite side and hypotenuse. Fy is the
opposite side, F is the hypotenuse.

Algebra: Multiply both sides by F.

Algebra: F's cancel on the right side.

Algebra: Switch left and right sides.

Plug in values.

Sine of 32.7 degrees is 0.5402.

Multiply, result stated in significant figures.

Final result stated with units. Note the negative
value of the final result. It is negative because
this is an y-component, and in the diagram it is
aimed down.
Always remember to check back to the diagram to make
sure you have the sign of the components correct.

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