M5 June 2015 Q3

EdexcelOld spec12 marksMomentsVectors

3. A rigid body is in equilibrium under the action of three forces \(\mathbf{F}_1\), \(\mathbf{F}_2\) and \(\mathbf{F}_3\)

\(\mathbf{F}_1\) and \(\mathbf{F}_2\) act at the points with position vectors \(\mathbf{r}_1\) and \(\mathbf{r}_2\) respectively, where

\(\mathbf{F}_1 = (2\mathbf{j} + \mathbf{k})\) N \(\qquad \mathbf{r}_1 = (\mathbf{i} + 2\mathbf{j} + 2\mathbf{k})\) m
\(\mathbf{F}_2 = (-2\mathbf{i} - \mathbf{j})\) N \(\qquad \mathbf{r}_2 = (-\mathbf{i} - \mathbf{j} + \mathbf{k})\) m

(a) Find the magnitude of \(\mathbf{F}_3\) (4)
(b) Find a vector equation of the line of action of \(\mathbf{F}_3\), giving your answer in the form \(\mathbf{r} = \mathbf{a} + t\mathbf{b}\), where \(\mathbf{a}\) and \(\mathbf{b}\) are constant vectors and \(t\) is a scalar parameter. (8)