Three people are pulling on a tree. The first person pulls with 16N at 64.0 degrees. The second person pulls with 15 N at 136 degrees. The 3rd person pulls with 12 N at 195 degrees. What is the magnitude and direction of the resultant force on the three?

Answer 1

What pathetic pullers!

You do not say derees to what. I will assume to the x axis and not to north.

x components:
16 cos 64 + 15 cos 136 + 12 cos 195
7.01 - 10.79 - 11.59
= -15.3

y components:
16 sin 64 + 15 sin 136 + 12 sin 195
= 21.7

magnitude = sqrt (21.7^2 + 15.3^2)

direction tan^-1 (21.7/-15.3) in quadrant 2 so 180 -54.8