Final answer:
The force that tends to bend the nail is 100N x cos(40°) = 76.37N. This force acts perpendicular to the surface of the wall.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nail is pulled by a string attached to its head, the force applied to the nail tends to bend it. In this case, the string makes an angle of 40° with the horizontal and exerts a force of 100N on the nail. To find the force that tends to bend the nail, we need to determine the horizontal component of the force applied by the string. The horizontal component can be calculated using the formula:
Horizontal force = Force x cos(angle)
Therefore, the force that tends to bend the nail is 100N x cos(40°) = 76.37N. This force acts perpendicular to the surface of the wall.