Angle for n-fold Magnitude Increase of A→ +B→

Click For Summary
To determine the angle between two equal magnitude vectors A→ and B→ such that the magnitude of A→ + B→ exceeds that of A→ - B→ by a factor of n, the vectors can be represented in two dimensions. By setting A→ as (1,0) and B→ as (cos(θ), sin(θ)), the resultant for the sum is calculated as 2a cos(θ/2), while for the difference, it is 2a sin(θ/2). The relationship between these two results must satisfy the condition that the sum's magnitude is n times greater than the difference's magnitude. This leads to a mathematical equation that can be solved for θ. Ultimately, the angle θ is crucial for achieving the desired magnitude increase between the vector sums and differences.
beauty-eyes
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Two vectors A→ and B→ have precisely equal magnitude .For the magnitude of A→ +B→ to be larger than the magnitude of
A→ - B→ by the factor n, what must be the angle between them?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Clearly, 1) the actual length of the vectors doesn't matter, so let's just make them length 1 and 2) since there are only two vectors involved, we can work in two dimensions. So call one vector (1,0) and the other one (cos(theta),sin(theta)). Now just set up your question and solve for theta.
 
The resultant of both constructions are diagonals of a rhombi.

This means that for the sum the resultant will be

2a\cos(\frac{\theta}{2})

where \theta is the require angle and a is the magnitude.

For the difference the angle between the vectors will be 180^o - \theta. In this case the resultant amounts to

2a\sin(\frac{\theta}{2})
 
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

Similar threads

Replies
2
Views
2K
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
1K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
1K
  • · Replies 30 ·
2
Replies
30
Views
2K
Replies
1
Views
1K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
2K
Replies
14
Views
2K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 26 ·
Replies
26
Views
3K