Problema Solution

A) two workers are trying to move a heavy crate. one pushes on the crate with a force A, which has a magnitude of 445 newtons and is directed due west. the other pushes with a force B, which has a magnitude of 325 newtons and is directed due north. what are the magnitude and direction of the resultant force of A+B applied to the crate? B) suppose that the second worker applies a force -B instead of B. 0what then are the magnitude and direction of the resultant force A-B applied to the crate? In both cases express the direction relative due west.

Answer provided by our tutors

This is a right-triangle problem since both forces are orthogonal.  The directions "due west" and "due north" are understood to mean that both forces are attempting to move towards west and north, hence a northwest-ward direction. 

Let 'x' represent the magnitude of the force:

x=sqrt(445^2 + 325^2)

click here to solve for magnitude of the force

x=551.04

Let the ratios of west and north represent the tangent:

tan(x)=325/445

in degrees:

x=36.15

So the magnitude of approximately 551 N would be applied approximately 36-degrees above due west.