Forces of magnitude 3N, 4N and 2N act along the vectors \(j ; -i + j\) and \(i + j\) respectively. Calculate, correct to one decimal place, the magnitude of the resultant of the forces.
Forces \(3\,\text{N},\ 4\,\text{N},\ 2\,\text{N}\) along \(j,\ -i+j,\ i+j\) respectively.
Convert each to components using the unit vector of its direction.
\[3\,\text{N along }j=(0,1):\quad (0,3)\]\[4\,\text{N along }-i+j=\frac{(-1,1)}{\sqrt2}:\quad \left(-\frac{4}{\sqrt2},\frac{4}{\sqrt2}\right)=(-2\sqrt2,\,2\sqrt2)\]\[2\,\text{N along }i+j=\frac{(1,1)}{\sqrt2}:\quad \left(\frac{2}{\sqrt2},\frac{2}{\sqrt2}\right)=(\sqrt2,\,\sqrt2)\]
Resultant components:
\[R_x=0-2\sqrt2+\sqrt2=-\sqrt2\approx-1.414\]\[R_y=3+2\sqrt2+\sqrt2=3+3\sqrt2\approx 7.243\]
Magnitude:
\[|R|=\sqrt{(-\sqrt2)^{2}+(3+3\sqrt2)^{2}}=\sqrt{2+(27+18\sqrt2)}=\sqrt{54.46}\approx 7.4\,\text{N}\]
The magnitude of the resultant is about \(7.4\,\text{N}\).