coplanar forces

[red and white kop!]

im asked in which direction the given particle would move if the 4N force was removed from this diagram
i already solved several problems involving these coplanar forces but here i have no idea where to start
any help?
oh i forgot to say that the angle between the 'horizontal' and the 4.26N force is 20°

 

[soroban]

Hello, red and white kop!

This is a "Thought Problem" . . .

In which direction the given particle would move if the \(\displaystyle 4N\) force was removed from this diagram.

  B o
        *     4.26N
            *
                *
              20d   *   P        4N
        - - - - - - - - o   *   *   *   *  o A
                        *
                  1.46N *
                        *
                        o  C

The system is presently in equilibrium. .(Check it out!)

. . \(\displaystyle \text{That is: }\;\overrightarrow{PA} + \overrightarrow{PB} + \overrightarrow{PC} \;=\;\overrightarrow{0}\)


\(\displaystyle \text{If }\overrightarrow{PA}\text{ is removed, the particle will move in the direction: }\:-\overrightarrow{PA}.\)

 

[Deleted member 4993]

Soroban is exactly right.

Another way to think about it, after you remove one of the forces - the particle will move in the direction of the resultant of the two remaining forces.

 

[red and white kop!]

what do you mean the resultant? like vectors?

 

[Deleted member 4993]

what do you mean the resultant? like vectors?

Yes - after the third force is removed - you are left with two and can add those using laws of parallelogram (or other variations).