What is the minimum number of unequal forces whose vector sum can equal zero?

What is the minimum number of unequal forces whose vector sum can equal zero?





My answer: I'd say two because the vector sum depends on the angle, not the magnitude of the force, so if we have two vectors with an 180 degree angle between them, their vector sum is zero. Is that right? I'm preparing for an exam, so I appreciate any idea. Thanks!|||Wrong: every example of what you describe is a counterexample.





Say vector 1 = 1 m [north] and vector 2 = 2 m [north]


The angle between them 0 and they are not equal.





1 m [north] + 2 m [north] = 3 m [north], which does not equal 0





In general, given two vectors of unequal length, adding them will result in a non-zero vector because in order to have a zero vector sum, the first and second vectors must "cancel out." For example, if you travel left 1 metre, you must travel 1 metre right to return to your initial position.





The minimum is three:


Three vectors of unequal form a triangle.|||Hi Gisele.





It's kind of a matter of semantics, depending on how you define unequal. I'd suggest that the question is looking for the answer 3, for the reasons that the other folks have given; however, you could quite rightly claim to be correct as force is a vector; two vectors OF EQUAL MAGNITUDE pointing in opposite directions are technically unequal. (and you were right with the 180 degrees too!).|||Three.


But you're either confused, or your question is incomplete.


A vector consists of both an angle and a magnitude.