Five boys are pushing on a snowball, and each is pushing with a force of 20.0 N. However, each boy is pushing in a different direction. They are pushing north, northeast, east, southeast, and south. (Each boy is pushing at an angle of 45.0° relative to his neighbor.) What is the magnitude of the total force on the ball?

Question

A) 0
B) 17.1 N
C) 24.1 N
D) 48.3 N
E) 50.0 N

Answer 1

Add the vectors.
The north and south forces cancel each other out. The other three add up to a net force east, with magnitude
20(1 + 2 cos 45) = 20(1 + sqrt2)

Answer 2

d.48