# How to resolve a horizontal force acting on an object in an incline plane into a parallel force?

A particle of weight $$W$$ Newtons is supported on a smooth inclined plane by two forces each equal in magnitude to half the weight, one acting horizontally and the other acting parallel to the plane.

We are asked to draw a diagram and here is the one provided by the answer:

First of all, why is the horizontal force ($$\frac{w}{2}$$) is acting to the right? Why can't it acts to the left instead?

Second, if the horizontal force is to the right, how can I resolve it into the parallel component, in order to get the form:

this is my diagram, why is it wrong?

First of all, why is the horizontal force ($$\frac{w}{2}$$) is acting to the right? Why can't it acts to the left instead?

Let us suppose it to be acting towards the left. Now , what are the other forces or component of forces in that direction ? It is pretty clear that the component of gravity in that direction is zero . Now , the component of $$N$$ will be $$N\sin \theta$$ (you can get this using the alternate angle theorem for parallel lines). Also you will have a component of $$\frac{w}{2}$$ in the opposite direction and it will be $$\frac{w}{2}\cos \theta$$ (the reason for this is explained in your second question).

It is pretty obvious that in this situation the body can't be supported on the inclined (which is against the first line of your question) . So the force must be towards the right.

Second, if the horizontal force is to the right, how can I resolve it into the parallel component

From the picture, you can get that the angle between the force parallel to the Incline and the horizontal force is $$\theta$$. Now Here's the picture of resolution :

Vector resolution is a process in which we draw an imaginary right angled triangle with the vector as it's hypotenuse and then we find the value of that vector along the remaining two perpendicular sides of that triangle.

Since the angle between the actual force (green line) and the dotted blue line is $$\theta$$. So the component of that green line along the dotted line is $$\frac{w}{2}\cos \theta$$ using this

$$\cos \theta = \frac{base}{hypotenuse} =\frac{dotted \;blue\; line}{green \;line}$$

$$dotted \; blue \; line = (green \; line)×(\cos \theta) =\frac{w}{2} \cos \theta$$

and since you can move a vector on its line of support or along the line of support of a parallel vector. So , the bold blue line (along the incline) is also $$\frac{w}{2}\cos \theta$$.

Your last picture is useful only when you are resolving the force which is acting along the incline since the two axes along which it is being resolved are perpendicular. But if you are trying to resolve the horizontal force on those two lines then you can get its component on the hypotenuse only and not on the vertical line and this is against the definition of resolution. You need two mutually perpendicular axis for resolving a vector but your picture doesn't meet this criteria for the horizontal force and so it wrong to resolve that horizontal force along the two remaining sides.

Hope it helps 🙂.

• Thanks for answering, but can you visualise it for me? Can you mathematically show that? I understand the corresponding angle, but it is the resolving part. Oct 28, 2020 at 13:32
• I keep getting, $\frac{w}{2cos(\theta)}$ please show mathematically. Oct 28, 2020 at 13:36
• ok no problem :) Oct 28, 2020 at 13:39
• Ankit Can you elaborate mathematically? Oct 28, 2020 at 13:49
• @Nhoj_Gonk yes the purple and the blue arc. Oct 28, 2020 at 14:01