Name ________________________________ #______  Date _________

Section _________
  Regents Physics

Worksheet On Combining Forces, And Resolving Forces 
 

Instructions:  Use the graphical method to find the resultant and equilibrant for the following force problems.

    Definitions:

        - Resultant - the single force that is equal to 2 or more forces.
 
        - Equilibrant - the single force that will balance 2 or more forces.
 
        - Equal in magnitude but opposite in direction of the resultant.
 
Important:

1) Label all vectors AS SHOWN BELOW (1 point each)
2) All vectors should have arrows (1 point each)
3) The Resultant and Equilibrant should be reported with a magnitude, unit and direction. (1 point each)
4) Be neat!!!!! (Work in pencil)
 
EXAMPLE:
3N North + 4N 45° S of E

 

 
 Resultant Equilibrant
 2.75 N 7 ° N of E 2.75 N 7 ° S of W

 

PART I
1)  Force of 5.0 N south acts concurrently with a force of 5.0 N 30° South of East.

 
A. Draw the diagram – TAIL to TAIL
B. Label both vectors (see page one for example)
C. Draw and LABEL the resultant and equilibrant
D. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant and equilibrant
    (scale: 1 cm = 1 N)
 
 
 

 





 
 

 
 


 
 
 
 

  

Start vectors at dot

 **** REMEMBER: VECTORS HAVE MAGNITUDE AND DIRECTION ****  

RESULTANT  =
 

EQUILIBRANT  =
 

 
2) A force of 9.0 N North acts concurrently with a force of 20. N 37° S of West  

Create an appropriate scale for this vector drawing (scale : 1cm =___ N )

A. Draw the diagram – “TAIL to TAIL”
B. Label both vectors (see page one for example)
C. Draw and LABEL the resultant and equilibrant
D. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant and equilibrant
 


 
 


 

.
 
Start vectors here
 

 

 
 
 
 
 

 
 

    (Did you remember to convert cm to N using your scale??) 

RESULTANT  =
 

EQUILIBRANT  =
 

Part II Concurrent Forces Separated By A 90. ° Angle
 
Find the resultant and equilibrant for the following force problems:
 
3 ) 10. N North acting concurrently with a force of 10. N East.
 
Come up with a scale that makes sense for this problem: 1 cm = _____ N
A. Draw the diagram – “TAIL to TAIL”
B. Label both vectors (see page one for example)
C. Draw and LABEL the resultant and equilibrant
D. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant and equilibrant
 
 
  
 
 
 
 

 .

 

Start here



 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

RESULTANT  =
 

EQUILIBRANT  =
 


4) A 10. N North force is combined with a force of 17 N East.
        (scale : 1 cm = ___N )


A. Draw the diagram – TAIL to TAIL
B. Label both vectors (see page one for example)
C. Draw and LABEL the resultant and equilibrant
D. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant and equilibrant

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

RESULTANT  =
 

EQUILIBRANT  =
 


5) A force of 9.0 N North and 12 N East act concurrently on a body.
 
A. Draw the diagram – ***HEAD TO TAIL***
B. Label both vectors (see page one for example)
C. Draw and LABEL the resultant and equilibrant
D. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant and equilibrant
        (scale : 1cm = 2N )


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 


RESULTANT  =
 

EQUILIBRANT  =
 


Part III - Resolution Of Forces
 
6) Draw AND label the horizontal and vertical component of the force below.
            1 cm = 10 N







a) Use the scale given above to find the magnitude (size) of the force drawn __________

b) What is the direction of the force? (include angle and direction) _______

c) What is the magnitude and direction of the horizontal component? ______
 
d) What is the magnitude and direction of the vertical component _______
 
7. A force of 6.0 Newtons 30. degrees south of east acts on the object below.
a) Draw the force on the object
b) Draw AND label the horizontal and vertical component
c) Find the magnitude and direction of the:
       
Horizontal component_______________ Vertical component ____________
 



 

b) If the angle of the force were increased, the vertical component would

_____________ and the horizontal component would ____________