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30 votes
Explain why 5N + 4N does not always mean a resultant force of 9N

User Islingre
by
3.2k points

1 Answer

9 votes
9 votes

Answer:

It depends on where the arrow is showing / direction of the resultant force.

Add for vectors in same direction, ie., 5N + 4N=9N

(arrow pointing in same direction)

Minus for different directions, ie., 5N - 4N=1N

(arrow pointing in opposite direction)

Hope this helps!

Further examples:

6N 46N

--------> ----->

(6+4=10N)

5N 4N

<------------ ------>

(5-4=1N)

or

8N 6N

--------------> <--------

(8-6=2N)

User Hauleth
by
3.4k points