What is the direction of the net external force on the apple (measured from the downward vertical, so that the angle to the right of downward is positive)?Answer in units of ◦

Question

What is the direction of the net external force on the apple (measured from the downward vertical, so that the angle to the right of downward is positive)?Answer in units of ◦

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Answer 1

Hey Christina,

To determine the direction of the net external force on an apple, we must consider the forces acting on it. Typically, the primary forces on an apple in a standard scenario (like an apple hanging from a tree) would be gravitational force acting downwards and possibly some other forces like wind or tension from a branch (if it's still attached to a tree).

If we consider only gravity, the net external force would be directly downward, with an angle of 0 degrees from the downward vertical (since downward itself is our reference point).

However, if there are additional forces like wind pushing the apple sideways, the direction of the net force would change. The net force would then be a vector sum of all individual forces. For example, if the wind is pushing the apple to the right, the net force would have a component downwards (gravity) and to the right (wind), resulting in a diagonal force vector.

To calculate the exact angle, you would use trigonometry, typically the tangent function (tan = opposite/adjacent), where the opposite side would be the horizontal force component and the adjacent side would be the vertical force component (gravity). The angle θ can be calculated using:

θ=arctan(vertical force/horizontal force)

This angle θ would be measured from the downward vertical, and it would be positive to the right of downward.

Without specific values for the forces acting on the apple, we can't calculate a precise angle. If only gravity is present, then the angle is 0 degrees. If there are additional forces, you would need their magnitudes and directions to calculate the exact angle.

I hope this helps.

Regards,

John