Two tugboats pull a disabled supertanker. each tug exerts a constant force of 2.20×106 n , one at an angle 15.0 ∘ west of north, and the other at an angle 15.0 ∘ east of north, as they pull the tanker a distance 0.810 km toward the north.

what is the total work done by the two tugboats on the supertanker?

The total work done by the two tugboats on the supertanker is 3.44 *10^9 J

Explanation:

The force by the tugboats acting on the supertanker is constant and the displacement of the supertanker is along a straight line.

The angle between the 2 forces and displacement is ∅ = 15°.

First we have to calculate the work done by the individual force and then we can calculate the total work.

The work done on a particle by a constant force F during a straight line displacement s is given by following formula:

W = F*s

W = F*s*cos∅

With ∅ = the angles between F and s

The magnitude of the force acting on the supertanker is F of tugboat1 = F of tugboat 2 = F = 2.2 * 10^6 N

The total work done can be calculated as followed:

Wtotal = Ftugboat1 s * cos ∅1 + Ftugboat2 s* cos ∅2

Wtotal = 2Fs*cos∅

Wtotal = 2*2.2*10^6 N * 0.81 *10³ m s *cos15°

Wtotal = 3.44*10^9 Nm = 3.44 *10^9 J

The total work done by the two tugboats on the supertanker is 3.44 *10^9 J

pretty sure it's false