Interactive Simulator · Vector Addition

Resultant of Two Perpendicular Forces

Two forces at right angles combine into one resultant, drawn as the diagonal of the rectangle they form. Its size is the square root of the sum of the squares of the two forces, straight from Pythagoras, and its direction is the inverse tangent of the vertical force over the horizontal one. Set the two forces to build a resultant of the target size.

Mission Build a resultant of 10.0 N from a horizontal and a vertical force. Round 1Streak 0Best 0
The resultant is usually:
resultant √(Fx² + Fy²)10.0 N
direction above horizontal53.1°
R = √(6² + 8²) = 10.0 N at 53.1 degrees.