Resultant Forces

• What is the purpose of resultant forces?

  They simplify complex situations with multiple forces
• What is a resultant force?

  A single force replacing multiple forces
• Why is the concept of resultant force important?

  It simplifies the analysis of multiple forces
• How do you determine the resultant force when forces act along the same line?

  Add forces in one direction, subtract in the other
• What is a free body diagram used for?

  • To show all forces acting on an object
  • Arrows represent force magnitudes and directions
  • Helps to determine resultant force
• What does a free body diagram represent?

  Forces acting on an isolated object
• What are the learning objectives regarding resultant forces?

  • Understand resultant force effects
  • Calculate resultant of two forces
  • Identify forces on a single object
  • Use free body diagrams for forces
  • Use scale drawings for resultant forces
  • Resolve a force into two components
• What happens when forces are balanced?

  The resultant force is zero
• What does it mean for an object to be in equilibrium?

  All forces combine to give zero resultant
• How can you find a missing force in equilibrium?

  Draw known forces and complete the loop
• How do you resolve a force into components?

  • Split the force into horizontal and vertical components
  • Use a square grid for accuracy
  • Measure components to find their magnitudes
• What is the resultant force of a tension of 2.5 N resolved into components?

  2 N in the direction of motion
• What does drawing forces to scale mean?

  Each unit of length represents a force quantity
• What is a bearing in terms of forces?

  An angle measured clockwise from north
• What does it indicate if the resultant force is represented as a complete loop in a scale diagram?

  The object is in equilibrium
• How does resolving forces differ from finding the resultant force?

  Resolving splits forces; resultant combines them
• What does the length of the arrows in a free body diagram represent?

  The relative magnitudes of the forces
• What is the resultant force when two equal forces act in opposite directions?

  Zero resultant force
• How do you measure the direction of the resultant force?

  Use a protractor to find the bearing
• What does it mean if the resultant force is not zero?

  The object will accelerate in a direction
• How can you visualize the forces acting on an object?

  By using a free body diagram
• What is the effect of air resistance on a moving object?

  It acts in the opposite direction to motion
• What happens to the resultant force if two forces of equal magnitude act in opposite directions?

  The resultant force becomes zero
• How do you determine if an object is in equilibrium using a scale diagram?

  The tip of the last force meets the tail of the first