Question Constellation Sign up for free AQA · GCSE · Combined Science · Higher
Southward force and resultant force
A boat has a 3000 N force to the west and a 1000 N force to the south.
The force to the south on the boat increases.
What effect does this have on the resultant force on the boat?
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Marking points
- 1 State that the magnitude or size of the resultant force increases.
- 2 State that the direction of the resultant force changes towards the south.
Full-mark answer
The resultant force becomes larger, and its direction changes further towards the south.
Why this answer loses marks
The resultant force decreases.
Increasing one perpendicular component makes the resultant vector larger, not smaller, and shifts it towards that component.