Physics (10th Edition)

Published by Wiley
ISBN 10: 1118486897
ISBN 13: 978-1-11848-689-4

Chapter 4 - Forces and Newton's Laws of Motion - Problems - Page 120: 121

Answer

(i) $\vec{F}_3$ is directed along $-x$ axis. (ii) $\vec{F}_3$ is directed along $-x$ axis. (iii) $\vec{F}_3$ is directed along $-x$ axis and has a magnitude of $8000N$.

Work Step by Step

(i) Since the spacecraft is stationary, which means its acceleration equals $0$, we have $$\vec{F}_1+\vec{F}_2+\vec{F}_3=0 (1)$$ Since both $\vec{F}_1$ and $\vec{F}_2$ are directed along the $+x$ axis, for equation (1) to be possible, $\vec{F}_3$ has to be directed along the $-x$ axis. (ii) Similarly, moving at a constant velocity means zero acceleration, which again leads to $$\vec{F}_1+\vec{F}_2+\vec{F}_3=0 $$ So $\vec{F}_3$ has to be directed along the $-x$ axis, too. (iii) We have $\vec{F}_1=+3000N$ and $\vec{F}_2=+5000N$. Therefore, $$\vec{F}_3=0-\vec{F}_1-\vec{F}_2=-8000N$$ So $\vec{F}_3$ is directed along $-x$ and has a magnitude of $8000N$.
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