Heavy Balls | Physics Problem

Website Discussion
1

Click here to read the complete problem statement.

2

How is 1.5 not the answer?

I would like to answer this question.

So basically, the two forces on the sides are perpendicular and equal to 0.5N.

So diagonal resultant is \sqrt {0.5^2+0.5^2} = \frac{\sqrt 2}{2}
Then you have to consider the fourth mass, at the end of the diagonal. That will give an additional 0.25N (use NLOG) giving for a total diagonal of \frac{\sqrt 2}{2} + 0.25 \approx 0.9571 \text{N}
By symmetry, the other diagonal must also be the same, and since these two are perpendicular, we can apply Pythagorus to get a total side force of \sqrt {0.9571^2 + 0.9571} \approx \boxed {1.353 \text{N}}

So there you go, that may or may not be the answer, you decide.

3

I think there is a problem here. I submitted the ans with 3 decimal points but i said I was wrong. Then I submitted the same ans with 2 decimal points and it said I was correct. Please fix it.