The sum of magnitudes of two forces acting at a point is 16N.If the resultant force is 8N and its direction is perpendicular to smaller force,then the forces are?

1 Answer
P dilip_k
Jan 10, 2018

Let the smaller of the two forces is of magnitude be #F# N.
Hence the larger one will be #(16-F)# N. As the resultant #8#N is perpendicular to #F# we can write.

#F^2+8^2=(16-F)^2#

#=>(16-F)^2-F^2=64#

#=>16(16-2F)=64#

#=>256-32F=64#

#=>F=(256-64)/32=6#N

So the smaller force is #6# N
and the larger force is #10# N

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