Log in

View Full Version : Vector nature of forces


gejapathy
Jan 27, 2007, 09:23 PM
Hello I am having some troubles with the following question I am a beginner to physics and have ebeen trying to figure this out. If someone could give me the steps to follow it would be great. The question is as follows:

A surfer "hangs ten" and accerlates down the sloping face of a wave if the surfs accerlation is 3.25 m/s^2 AND FRICTIOn CAN BE IGNORED what is the angle at which the face of the wave is inclined above the horzontal.

:confused: :( :mad:

Capuchin
Jan 29, 2007, 12:53 AM
Draw a right angled triangle (The hypotenuse is the downwards weight of the surfer (mg), the adjacent edge is the component of his force parallel to the wave (3.25m))

If the hypotenuse is 9.8m and the adjacent edge is 3.25m, what is the angle? (where m is the surfer's mass)