Three People Pulling a Stubborn Donkey: Net Force and Direction Calculation

What are the forces exerted by Jack, Jill, and Jane on the donkey?

Jack exerts a force of 82.5 N directly ahead of the donkey. Jill pulls with 66.1 N at a 45° angle to the left, while Jane pulls with 151 N at a 45° angle to the right. What is the net force exerted on the donkey?

Answer:

The magnitude of the net force exerted on the donkey is approximately 73.2 N, while the direction of the net force is approximately 45° to the left.

To find the magnitude of the net force, we can break down the given forces into their horizontal and vertical components. Jack's force has horizontal and vertical components, Jill's force has horizontal and vertical components, and Jane's force has horizontal and vertical components. By summing up the horizontal and vertical components of each force, we can calculate the total net force exerted on the donkey. In this case, the net force is approximately 73.2 N.

To determine the direction of the net force, we can use trigonometry to analyze the components of the forces in different directions. By calculating the angles and magnitudes of the horizontal and vertical components, we can find that the net force is directed at an angle of approximately 45° to the left.

In conclusion, the net force exerted on the donkey by Jack, Jill, and Jane is a combination of their individual forces and directions. Understanding how to calculate the net force and its direction is essential in physics and real-world applications.