Solve Vector Word Problem with Tow Truck: Work Done in Joules

[hungrymouth]

1. Let F = 1050N & θ = 24°. A tow truck drags a stalled car along a road. The chain makes an angle of θ degrees with the road, and the tension in the chain is F Newtons. How much work W is done by the truck in pulling the car a distance D = 1km(1000m) along a horizontal road? Express the result in joules using scientific notation and three significant figures.



2. w = f*d



3. I don't have a clue how to approach this problem. I need some guidance as in approaching the problem so that I can solve the problem.

 

[Simon Bridge]

Start from the definition of work.
(In words - possibly.)

i.e. if the force were perpendicular to the direction of travel - how much work would it do?

 

[LCKurtz]

2. w = f*d

And don't you mean ##w = \vec f \cdot \vec d##? (Vectors and dot product)