Asked in Premeth — Coordination and Control, Vectors and EquilibriumModerate

Two forces of magnitude 20 N and 10 N act at a point then which one of the following cannot be their possible sum?

Correct answer: C. 35 N

  • A. 30 N
  • B. 10 N
  • C. 35 N
  • D. 15 N

Explanation

The resultant force of two vectors can range from the absolute difference to the absolute sum of their magnitudes, depending on their relative direction. For forces of 20 N and 10 N, the possible resultant can range from 10 N (when acting in opposite directions) to 30 N (when acting in the same direction). Therefore, 35 N exceeds this range and cannot be a resultant of these two forces. The other options (10 N, 15 N, and 30 N) all fall within the possible range for the resultant force.

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About Addition of Vectors

Vector addition combines directed quantities using the head-to-tail, parallelogram and component methods. Work includes finding the resultant magnitude and direction for two or more vectors, resolving vectors into perpendicular components, and distinguishing vector addition from scalar addition, where direction has no role.

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