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Vectors and Equilibrant?

For a Physics lab, we were given these 3 vectors which we had to solve graphically to find the resultant. Then we have to fill up cups with the correct masses of dirt and use a force table to determine if we calculated the equilibrant correctly. My vectors were: 380g at 100º, 450g at 240º, and 525 at 352º.

My first trial was wrong. I've gone through and drawn the graph again. This time, I got the resultant to be 265g at 342º, and the equilibrant to be 265g and 162º. But, I checked using compontents and got a different answer. And when I used online vector calculators, I got 3 more different answers. Can someone tell me what I'm doing wrong? Here's a scan of the diagram that I drew...http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r307/orlandoluv...

1 Answer

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  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Solving this with trig to three decimal places, I get the point (-88.550, 228.905), which is rather close to your first graphic solution. This translates to roughly 245g at 339 degrees.

    Components:

    (374.227, -65.986)

    (-389.711, -225.000)

    (-73.066, 519.891)

    I hope this helps as a check on your computations.

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