O-LevelPhysicsForces5054/11 · Oct/Nov 2020 · Q11 Mark
A heavy nail is fixed firmly to a wall. It is pulled by a string at 40° to the vertical. The nail does not move. Three forces act on the nail: its weight W, the tension T in the string, the force R exerted by the wall. Which diagram, drawn to scale, represents the three forces?
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Aclosed vector triangle with vectors representing W, T, and R. W points vertically downwards. T starts from the head of W and points upwards and to the left, at 40° to the vertical. R starts from the head of T and points horizontally to the right, closing the triangle to the tail of W.
Bclosed vector triangle with vectors representing W, T, and R. W points vertically downwards. T starts from the head of W and points upwards and to the right, at 40° to the vertical. R starts from the head of T and points horizontally to the left, closing the triangle to the tail of W.
Cvector diagram showing W pointing vertically downwards. T starts from the head of W and points upwards and to the left, at 40° to the vertical. R starts from the tail of W and points upwards and to the right. The vectors do not form a closed triangle head-to-tail.
Dvector diagram showing W pointing vertically downwards. T starts from the head of W and points upwards and to the right, at 40° to the vertical. R starts from the tail of W and points upwards and to the left. The vectors do not form a closed triangle head-to-tail.
✓ Correct answer
A: closed vector triangle with vectors representing W, T, and R. W points vertically downwards. T starts from the head of W and points upwards and to the left, at 40° to the vertical. R starts from the head of T and points horizontally to the right, closing the triangle to the tail of W.
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