Two tugboats pull a disabled supertanker. Each tug exerts a constant force of 1.80 * 10^6 N, one 16 degrees west of north and the other 14 degrees east of north, as they pull the tanker 0.63 km toward the north. What is the total work they do on the supertanker?

Question

I'm writing out the expression for total work: W = 2 * 1.8 * 10^6 * 630

...but how do I figure in the angles?

Thanks.

Answer 1

Only use the North components of the forces. Work in is the Force times the motion IN THE DIRECTION OF THE FORCE.
Fn = 1.8 * 10^6 cos 16 + 1.8*10^6 cos 14