Table of contents
- 0. Review of College Algebra4h 43m
- 1. Measuring Angles39m
- 2. Trigonometric Functions on Right Triangles2h 5m
- 3. Unit Circle1h 19m
- 4. Graphing Trigonometric Functions1h 19m
- 5. Inverse Trigonometric Functions and Basic Trigonometric Equations1h 41m
- 6. Trigonometric Identities and More Equations2h 34m
- 7. Non-Right Triangles1h 38m
- 8. Vectors2h 25m
- 9. Polar Equations2h 5m
- 10. Parametric Equations1h 6m
- 11. Graphing Complex Numbers1h 7m
8. Vectors
Geometric Vectors
Problem 7.48b
Textbook Question
Textbook QuestionOne boat pulls a barge with a force of 100 newtons. Another boat pulls the barge at an angle of 45° to the first force, with a force of 200 newtons. Find the resultant force acting on the barge, to the nearest unit, and the angle between the resultant and the first boat, to the nearest tenth.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Vector Addition
Vector addition is the process of combining two or more vectors to determine a resultant vector. In this context, the forces exerted by the two boats can be represented as vectors, where the magnitude and direction of each force are taken into account. The resultant force is found by adding these vectors using methods such as the parallelogram law or component analysis.
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Trigonometric Functions
Trigonometric functions, such as sine, cosine, and tangent, relate the angles and sides of triangles. In this problem, the angle of 45° plays a crucial role in determining the components of the second force vector. By using these functions, we can resolve the forces into their horizontal and vertical components, which are essential for calculating the resultant force.
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Resultant Force and Angle Calculation
The resultant force is the single force that has the same effect as the combined forces acting on an object. To find the magnitude and direction of the resultant force, we calculate the net horizontal and vertical components and then use the Pythagorean theorem for magnitude and the arctangent function for the angle. This allows us to determine both the strength of the resultant force and its angle relative to a reference direction.
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