Final answer:
The magnitude of the resultant force is approximately 943.4 Newtons, calculated using the Pythagorean theorem.
Step-by-step explanation:
To find the resultant force in this scenario, we need to break down the given forces into their x and y components. The force of 500 Newtons directly north can be represented as 500N in the y-direction, and the force of 800 Newtons directly east can be represented as 800N in the x-direction. Since these forces are perpendicular to each other, we can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude of the resultant force:
Resultant force (F_res) = sqrt((Fx)^2 + (Fy)^2)
Plugging in the values:
F_res = sqrt((800N^2) + (500N^2)) = sqrt(640000N^2 + 250000N^2) = sqrt(890000N^2) = 943.4N
So, the magnitude of the resultant force is approximately 943.4 Newtons.