Analysis In the first trial, the result from the force table are F4 is 110 g and the angle

is 326 thus the actual being 146. In the experiment, if the angle is moved even slightly or the mass is decreased or increased even in the smallest value, the ring will move away from the center. The percentage error of the graphical method when compared to the result from the force table is 0% and 0.6849%, for the resultant and the angle respectively. When the values from the force table are compared to the results from the component method, the percentage error is 1.1854% and 0.8119%, for the resultant and the angle respectively. In the second trial, the resultant is 115 g and the actual is 91. The percentage error of the graphical method when compared to the result from the force table is 0% and 2.1978%, for the resultant and the angle respectively. While the percentage error for the component method is 0.9565% and 0.4286%, for the resultant and the angle respectively. Conclusion Based on the experiment, the resultant force can be determined using Graphical Method (polygon method) and Analytical Method (component method) and also by using the force table. The accuracy of the three methods is quite high. The graphical method is the most accurate in determining the resultant while the analytical method is the best of the three in finding the direction because of its low percentage error. Human error is one of the probable sources of errors in the experiment. The measurements were within 2% difference and sometimes 0%, so the force table was reasonably accurate.

Related Application One important application of this principle is in the recreational sport of sail boating. Sailboats encounter a force of wind resistance due to the impact of the moving air molecules against the sail. This force of wind resistance is directed perpendicular to the face of the sail, and as such is often directed at an angle to the direction of the sailboat's motion. The actual direction of this force is dependent upon the orientation of the sail. To determine the influence of the wind resistance force in the direction of motion, that force will have to be resolved into two components - one in the direction that the sailboat is moving and the other in a direction perpendicular to the sailboat's motion.

Source: http://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/vectors/U3L3b.cfm