Answer to Question #114356 in Physics for Higgins

Question

A boat is moored to a dock using two ropes exerting force of 400N each on the boat. There is a wind blowing off-shore and keeping the boat away from the dock. What force does the boat experience because of the wind? The two ropes and deck form an isosceles triangle with the angle of 28º at the apex.

Answer 1

Let's consider balance of forces, acting on a boat. It's two tension forces and force due to wind blow. Balance of forces in $y$ projection gives: $2 T \cos{14^o}=F$. Thus, force, caused by wind, is $F=2\cdot400\cdot0.97\approx776.2$