# Math Help - Force vector

1. ## Force vector

1. Rhino and Lizard have managed to wrap spiderman in his own web and are pulling on seprate strands. Rhino is pulling with a mangnitude of 3000lbs. at 20 degrees West of North. Lizard is pulling with a magnitude of 1700 lbs. at 40 degrees South of North.

Once this problem is figured out is there a way to find component form of both rhino and lizards vector force. Also what is their combined force vector.

2. there is a 7000lb. runaway bus careening down the street with an incline of 25 degrees towards a gaggle of old ladies. How much force does the Hulk need to exert to keep the bus from crushing the little old ladies?

I don't know what this problem is asking.

thank you for your help :3

2. Hello needshelptoo

Welcome to Math Help Forum!
Originally Posted by needshelptoo
1. Rhino and Lizard have managed to wrap spiderman in his own web and are pulling on seprate strands. Rhino is pulling with a mangnitude of 3000lbs. at 20 degrees West of North. Lizard is pulling with a magnitude of 1700 lbs. at 40 degrees South of North.
Sorry, but this doesn't make sense. Do you mean East of North? West of North?
Once this problem is figured out is there a way to find component form of both rhino and lizards vector force. Also what is their combined force vector.
Yes, you can find the components of the forces. Taking North and East as the positive directions, the components of Rhino's force is:
$3000 \cos 20^o\approx 2819$ lbs North

$-3000\sin 20^o\approx -1026$ lbs East
If Lizard is pulling $1700$ lbs at $40^o$ East of North, then his components are:
$1700\cos 40^o\approx 1302$ lbs North

$1700\sin 40^o\approx 1093$ lbs East
Once you have found these components, add them together to find the total force.
2. there is a 7000lb. runaway bus careening down the street with an incline of 25 degrees towards a gaggle of old ladies. How much force does the Hulk need to exert to keep the bus from crushing the little old ladies?

I don't know what this problem is asking.

thank you for your help :3
If the forces on the bus are in equilibrium, then the total force in any direction is zero. So if Hulk pushes the bus in a direction parallel to the plane with a force $P$, the total force up the plane (ignoring friction) is:
$P - 7000\sin25^o = 0$

$\Rightarrow P \approx 2958$ lbs