Day 2 – Adding Force Vectors Worksheet
1. The cable of an elevator exerts an upward force of 12 000 N, while gravity pulls down on the
elevator with a force of 10 000 N. Draw a free-body diagram of the forces on the elevator
and find the net force acting on it.
2. Suppose that the only horizontal forces on a 120 N pumpkin on a table are 36 N [right] and
52 N [left]. Draw a free-body diagram to show all four forces, and find the net force acting
on the pumpkin.
3. Two horizontal forces act on an object. One is 10 N [W] while the other is 20 N [E 30○ N].
Calculate the net force on the object.
4. A paddler in a canoe paddles with a force of 200 N [E] while the current exerts a force of 100
N [E 45○ S] on the canoe. Calculate the net horizontal force on the canoe.
5. A person is pulling a heavy wagon along the sidewalk by exerting a force of 12 N [E] on it.
A force of fiction of 10 N opposes the motion. The force of gravity on the wagon is 100 N.
a) Draw a free body diagram showing all the forces acting on the wagon.
b) Determine the net force on the wagon.
6. Three children are tugging a rubber tube in shallow water. One exerts a force of 40 N [N 30○
E], another a force of 30 N [W], and a third a force of 50 N [S 45○ W].
a) Draw a free body diagram showing the three horizontal forces acting on the tube. (Ignore
any vertical forces).
b) What is the net horizontal force acting on the tube?
Answers
1. 2.0 × 103 N [up]
2. 16 𝑁 [𝑙𝑒𝑓𝑡]
3. 12 𝑁 [𝑁 36° 𝐸]
4. 2.80 × 102 𝑁 [𝑆 75° 𝐸]
5. 2 𝑁 [𝐸]
6. 45 𝑁 [𝑊 1° 𝑆]