- #1
Ockham
- 14
- 0
Homework Statement
The truck is to be towed using two ropes. If the resultant force is to be 910N directed along the positive x axis, determine the magnitudes of force F1 and F2 acting on each rope and the angle θ of F2 so that the magnitude of F2 is a minimum. F1 acts at 20° from the x-axis
attached is a picture.
Homework Equations
∑Fx = 0
∑Fy = 0
LOS: sinα/A = sinβ/B = sinγ/C
LOC: A*A = B*B + C*C - 2BCcos(θ) . where θ is the angle oppsite side A
The Attempt at a Solution
For the force to only be along the x-axis the y components sum to zero and the x components sum to 910N
Problem is: I got 2 equations but 3 unknowns:
(1) F1cos20 + F2cosθ = 910.
(2) F1sin20 - F2sinθ = 0
F1 is the magnitude of the vector F1 and F2 is the magnitude of the vector F2
I've been fiddling with LOS and LOC simplify to 2 unknowns but no luck and I need to make some progress on this homework, does anyone have any insight?