Two forces whose resultant is 200N are perpendicular to each other. If one of them makes an angle of 60° with the resultant. Calculate it magnitude?

1 Answer
Aug 10, 2018

100N

Explanation:

Suppose,one of the force is vec X and the other is vec Y

so, vec X + vec Y =vec R

where, | vec X|=X,|vec Y|=Y, |vec R|=200

again, angle between vec X and vec Y is alpha=90^@

so, we can say, R^2 =X^2 +Y^2 +2XY cos 90

or, 200^2 =X^2 +Y^2....................1

If,the vec X makes an angle of theta=60^@ then,

we can write,

tan theta = (Y sin alpha)/(X + Y cos alpha)

putting the given values we find, tan 60=Y/X

or, Y=sqrt(3)X...................2

Putting Y=sqrt(3)X in 1 we get,

X^2 +(sqrt(3)X)^2 =200*200

or, 4X^2 =200*200

or, X^2=50*200=100*100

or, X=100N