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sin vs cos on inclined plane - AAMC QP 57
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Tyreek_6897
#1 Posted : Tuesday, July 06, 2021 11:03:22 PM
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How do determine whether to use sin or cos when you have questions asking to determine force on inclined plane? I usually guess between them, but I don't know the logic.
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INSTR_Katrina_128
#2 Posted : Wednesday, July 07, 2021 5:12:20 PM
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Hi Tyreek!

No need to guess. 😀

The force PARALLEL TO (or SLIDING DOWN) the inclined plane using SINE. (sliding = sine)

Example: https://i.stack.imgur.com/ciMDw.png

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However, this question ISN'T A FORCE ON AN INCLINED PLANE! Notice that the block is sitting on a horizontal surface?

What is tricky is that the APPLIED FORCE is being applied at an angle of Θ to the horizontal. The question is basically asking "what is the HORIZONTAL component of the tension (applied) force"?

Since Θ is cosy (snuggly) with the horizontal axis, the answer is T cos Θ, or D.
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