1. What is Direction of Net Force?

Definition: The direction of net force is the angle at which the resultant force acts, calculated from the horizontal axis.

Purpose: This calculation is essential in physics and engineering to determine the resultant direction when multiple forces act on an object.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \theta \) — Direction angle (degrees from horizontal)
• \( F_y \) — Vertical component of force (Newtons)
• \( F_x \) — Horizontal component of force (Newtons)

Explanation: The arctangent function (atan2) calculates the angle whose tangent is the ratio of vertical to horizontal force components.

3. Importance of Direction Calculation

Details: Knowing the direction of net force helps predict motion direction, design stable structures, and analyze force systems.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter both force components in Newtons. The calculator handles all quadrants (0-360°) using atan2 function.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What if F_x is zero?
A: The calculator handles this case specially - the angle will be 90° (up) or -90° (down) depending on F_y's sign.

Q2: What's the range of possible angles?
A: The calculator returns angles between -180° and +180° using the atan2 function.

Q3: How do I interpret negative angles?
A: Negative angles indicate direction below the horizontal axis (clockwise from positive x-axis).

Q4: Can I use this for 3D forces?
A: No, this is for 2D forces only. For 3D, you'd need additional calculations.

Q5: What units should I use?
A: The calculator uses Newtons (N) for force and degrees for angles.