SOLUTION: 1. A 75 kg skydiver in free fall is subjected to a crosswind exerting a force of 60 N and to a vertical air resistance force of 100 N. Describe the resultant force acting on the sk

Algebra ->  Trigonometry-basics -> SOLUTION: 1. A 75 kg skydiver in free fall is subjected to a crosswind exerting a force of 60 N and to a vertical air resistance force of 100 N. Describe the resultant force acting on the sk      Log On


   



Question 653867: 1. A 75 kg skydiver in free fall is subjected to a crosswind exerting a force of 60 N and to a vertical air resistance force of 100 N. Describe the resultant force acting on the skydiver. (ANSWER: 638.6 N at the angle of 5.4* to vertical)
What is the equation I should be using for this problem?





Answer by htmentor(1343) About Me  (Show Source):
You can put this solution on YOUR website!
To find the resultant, first we resolve the forces into x and y components.
Assume g = 9.81 m/s^2
The gravitational force is vertically down with magnitude 75*9.81 = 735.75 N
The air resistance points up with magnitude 100 N
So the sum of the forces in the y-direction = 735.75 - 100 = 635.75
The crosswind in the x-direction = 60 N
The resultant force has magnitude sqrt((635.75)^2+(60)^2) = 638.6 N
The angle of the resultant force = arctan(60/635.75) = 5.4 deg. from vertical