Three forces P, Q and R act on a particle at O in the plane of the coordinate axes Ox, Oy. Force P acts along Ox, Q acts along Oy and R acts at an angle with Ox. The resultant vector is shown. This system of forces is said to be in equilibrium if their resultant is the zero vector. Move vectors P, Q and R so that the resultant is zero.
Software/Applets used on this page
Uses Cinderella interactive geometry
Glossary
axes
One of two straights line on a graph from which measurements are taken. One axis (the y axis) is vertical; the other (the x axis)is horizontal.
coordinate
One of the measurements of distance of a point from the axes of the graph.
equilibrium
the state of an object when the vector sum of all forces acting on it is zero and when the algebraic sum of the moments of the forces about any point is zero
force
that which causes a body to accelerate or change in momentum
particle
an object with negligible size and internal structure, which can be represented by a point; the fundamental assumption in mechanics.
vector
A mathematical object with magnitude and direction.
This question appears in the following syllabi:
| Syllabus | Module | Section | Topic | Exam Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AQA A-Level (UK - Pre-2017) | M1 | Statics | Forces as vectors | - |
| AQA A2 Maths 2017 | Mechanics | Equilibrium and Resolving | Resolving Forces | - |
| AQA AS/A2 Maths 2017 | Mechanics | Equilibrium and Resolving | Resolving Forces | - |
| CCEA A-Level (NI) | M1 | Statics | Forces as vectors | - |
| CIE A-Level (UK) | M1 | Statics | Forces as vectors | - |
| Edexcel A-Level (UK - Pre-2017) | M1 | Statics | Forces as vectors | - |
| Edexcel A2 Maths 2017 | Mechanics | Resolving Forces and Friction | Resolving Forces | - |
| Edexcel AS/A2 Maths 2017 | Mechanics | Resolving Forces and Friction | Resolving Forces | - |
| OCR A-Level (UK - Pre-2017) | M1 | Statics | Forces as vectors | - |
| OCR A2 Maths 2017 | Mechanics | Resolving Forces and Equilibrium | Resolving Forces | - |
| OCR MEI A2 Maths 2017 | Mechanics | Resolving Forces and Equilibrium | Resolving Forces | - |
| OCR-MEI A-Level (UK - Pre-2017) | M1 | Statics | Forces as vectors | - |
| Pre-U A-Level (UK) | Mech | Statics | Forces as vectors | - |
| Universal (all site questions) | S | Statics | Forces as vectors | - |
| WJEC A-Level (Wales) | M1 | Statics | Forces as vectors | - |