Calculus/vectors

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Expert: - 1/8/2006


Question
a wagon is pulled along level ground with a force of 18 N in the handle.  if the handle makes an angle of 30 degrees with the horizontal, what are the horizontal and vertical components of the force?

please help me understand what to do.

Answer
Think of the 18 N force as the hypotenuse of a triangle.
So we have a 30-60-90 right triangle.  Thus, the side
opposite the 30 degree angle (i.e. the vertical component)
is half the hypotenuse...which is 9 N.  The adjacent side
(i.e. the horizontal component) is 9*sqrt(3) N or about 15.6 N.

OK?

Abe

Calculus

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Abe Mantell

Expertise

Hello, I am a college professor of mathematics and regularly teach all levels from elementary mathematics through differential equations, and would be happy to assist anyone with such questions!

Experience

Over 15 years teaching at the college level.

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NCTM, NYSMATYC, AMATYC, MAA, NYSUT, AFT.

Education/Credentials
B.S. in Mathematics from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
M.S. (and A.B.D.) in Applied Mathematics from SUNY @ Stony Brook

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