HOMEWORK 2 - Sp 25

Problem statements
Solution video - H2.A
Solution video - H2.B

DISCUSSION THREAD

HINTS:
Part a) - Write down the position vector from A to B: rAB. The unit vector  from A to B is found by uAB =rAB/|rAB|. From this, the force of cable AB acting on the mast is: FAB = FAB*uAB.
Part b) -Worked out in a similar way, with AB to be replaced by AC.
Part c) - Refer to the lecture book for determining the direction angles and direction cosines directly from a unit vector that has been written in component form.

Please post questions here on the homework, and take time to answer questions posted by others. You can learn both ways.

14 thoughts on “HOMEWORK 2 - Sp 25”

  1. Hi is there any specific work or written reasoning needed to be shown on the grid paper besides the problem and our answer to it for this homework?

    1. Based on the example from the syllabus, we need to include the following:
      Your first, middle, and last name;
      The date;
      The problem number;
      The information given in the problem;
      What you need to find;
      Then, the solution.

      More information can be found on page 9 of the syllabus.

  2. When answering in vector format, can we write vectors as (x, y, z) with units or must the format be in i_hat + j_hat + k_hat format with units? I noticed that the lecture videos mostly used the i_hat + j_hat + k_hat format, and wanted to clarify if the (x, y, z) format was also okay to use (without any point deductions).

    1. I think that component form refers to the use of i_hat, j_hat, and k_hat to describe the vector. I would use this form over the format only because part c asks us to refer to the lecturebook, which uses this form in chapter 2 pages 19-23 to work out the direction angles and direction cosines.

    1. Variable values are given in the problem. However, it is advisible to solve only with variables first and then plug in numbers at the last step. This helps to avoid numerical errors.

    1. My professor said that more sig figs is never worse. You are supposed to not round until the very end and then put as many sig figs as you have, but three is standard, I believe.

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