Enter the x and y components of a force vector into the calculator to determine the magnitude of the force.
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Magnitude of Force Formula
The following equation is used to calculate the magnitude of a force.
Fm = √(Fx^2 + Fy^2)
- Where Fm is the magnitude of the force
- Fx is the x-component of the force vector
- Fy is the y-component of the force vector
To calculate the magnitude of a force, add together the x-component squared by the y-component squared, then take the square root of that value.
What is a Magnitude of Force?
Definition:
In physics, a force is the push or pull that acts upon an object to make it move or accelerate. A force is said to have a magnitude (or strength) and direction.
The force can be expressed as a vector like a velocity, position, and acceleration. This vector has an x and y-component, which both contribute to the overall magnitude of the force.
How to Calculate Magnitude of Force?
Example Problem:
The following example outlines the steps and information needed to calculate the Magnitude of Force.
First, determine the x-component of the force. In this example, the x-component of force is given as 50N.
Next, determine the y-components of force. In this case, the y-component of force is given as 30N.
Finally, calculate the magnitude of force using the formula above:
Fm = SQRT(Fx^2 + Fy^2)
Fm = SQRT(50^2 + F30^2)
Fm = 58.309 N