A gust of wind blows an apple from a tree.

As the apple falls, the force of gravity on the
apple is 9.20 N downward, and the force of
the wind on the apple is 1.74 N to the right.
What is the magnitude of the net external
force on the apple?
Answer in units of N.

2 answers

the forces are perpendicular and add by the Pythagorean theorem

(net)^2 = (down)^2 + (right)^2
So 9.20^2 + 1.74^2= 87.6676
so square root of 87.6676 which is 9.36?