7.

5 Application of Vectors

Objectives: (1) Solve inclined ramp problems. (2) Find the angle between two forces.

Example. Find the force required to pull a 50 lb weight up a 20 incline.

Solution.

Refer to the gure to the left. Let BA represent the force of gravity. Let BC represent the force of the weight pushing against the ramp. Let AC represent the force causing the weight to slide down the ramp. Let BF represent the force required to prevent the weight from sliding down the ramp.

It is not obvious, but, the magnitude of BF and CA is the same. Since the object is not moving, the summation of the two forces is zero. Since BF is parallel to CA and BA is a transversal, EBD BAC. Since BCA = = CBF = 90 , ABC is similar to BED. This implies that ABC = 20 . Since ABC is a right triangle, |AC |AC| = 50 sin 20 = 17. sin 20 = 50 Since BF = AC, the force required to pull the weight is 17 lb.

Example. A force of 25 lb is required to push an 80 lb weight up a hill. What angle does the hill make with the horizontal?
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Solution. Fortunately, we did all the hard work in the pervious example. By similar reasoning, EBD is similar to ABC. So, ABC = . 25 25 B = sin1 = 18 sin B = 80 80

Example. Two forces of 692 Newtons and 433 Newtons act at a point. The resulting force is 786 Newtons. Find the angle between the forces.

Solution.

We represent the forces with vectors and add them using the parallelogram law. The angle between the two forces is + . From the diagram we see that the side opposite has length 492. We shall use the Law of Cosines to nd the measure of .

4232 = 6922 + 7862 (2)(692)(786) cos 6922 + 7862 4232 cos = (2)(692)(786)
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 = 32.5 Now, use the Law of Cosines to solve for . 6922 = 4232 + 7862 (2)(423)(786) cos 4232 + 7862 6922 (2)(423)(786) = 61.4 The angle between the tow forces is 93.9 . cos =

Example. A jet ies on a bearing of 233 at a speed of 450 mph. The wind is blowing at 39 mph from a direction of 114 . Find the resulting bearing and ground speed of the plane.

Solution.

The vector with magnitude 450 represents the air speed and direction of the plane. The vector with magnitude 39 represents the speed and direction of the wind. The vector labeled x represents the ground speed and direction of the plane.

The angle between the plane vector and the north-south line is 233 180 = 53 . The 53 angle and the angle are alternate interior angles formed by parallel lines cut by a transversal. Hence, = 53 . The angle between the wind vector and the north-south line is 114 . That angle, and the angle are alternate interior angles on the same side of a transversal. These angles are supplementary. So, = 180 114 = 66 . So, the angle
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between the plane vector and the wind is 119 . Now, we use the Law of Cosines to nd the magnitude of x, which is the ground speed. |x| = 392 + 4502 (2)(39)(450) cos 119 = 470 Use the Law of Sines to solve for . sin sin 119 39 sin 119 = sin = = 4.2 39 470 470 So, the resulting bearing is 237 , and the ground speed is 470 mph.