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 7.38b
Textbook Question
Textbook QuestionFind the force required to keep a 3000-lb car parked on a hill that makes an angle of 15° with the horizontal.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Weight and Gravitational Force
The weight of an object is the force exerted on it due to gravity, calculated as the mass of the object multiplied by the acceleration due to gravity (approximately 32.2 ft/s² on Earth). In this case, the car's weight is given as 3000 lbs, which represents the gravitational force acting downwards.
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Components of Forces
When an object is on an inclined plane, the gravitational force can be resolved into two components: one parallel to the incline and one perpendicular to it. The parallel component is responsible for the force that tries to pull the object down the slope, while the perpendicular component affects the normal force acting on the object.
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Trigonometric Functions in Force Analysis
Trigonometric functions, particularly sine and cosine, are used to calculate the components of forces acting on an inclined plane. For an angle θ, the parallel component of the weight can be found using the formula: W_parallel = W * sin(θ), while the perpendicular component is W_perpendicular = W * cos(θ). These calculations are essential for determining the force required to keep the car stationary on the hill.
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