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A force of 58 newtons is applied to a crate at an angle of 32° with the horizontal. What is the value of force acting in the y-direction?

User Steed
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1 Answer

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Answer: 30.735 N

Explanation:

The best way to solve this problem would be to draw out a triangle, with the hypotenuse being 58 N and the angle being 32 degrees (attached below).

Since we need to find the y value, we have to use trigonometry, and in this case, we would use a sine function (opposite / hypotenuse). You would get this equation when left unsimplified:

sin 32 = y / 58

After multiplying 58 on both sides to get y alone on one side, we are given:

y = 58 sin 32

Which ends up being 30.73531733. (If using sig figs, this would round to 31 N)

A force of 58 newtons is applied to a crate at an angle of 32° with the horizontal-example-1
User Kumarie
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