Question

A 1200 N cart rests on a 36 degree incline. Calculate the value of the component of the cart’s weight that holds it against the inclined plane.

Answer 1

Given,

The weight of the cat, W=1200 N

The angle of inclination, θ=36°

The component of the weight that holds the cat against the inclined plane is the vertical component.

The vertical component of the cat's weight is given by,

`W_y=W\cos \theta`

On substituting the known values,

`\begin{gathered} W_y=1200*\cos 36^(\circ) \\ =970.8\text{ N} \\ \approx970\text{ N} \end{gathered}`

Thus the value of the component of the cat's weight that holds it against the inclined plane is 970 N

Therefore the correct answer is option 2.