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As a consequence of Newton's Second Law, three forces applied to the same object may or may not balance. In three-way tug-of-war, three teams try to move a central ring away from its central point. If one side starts to win, the other two can change the angle of their pull to try and resist the net force. Predicting the results can be easier if each force is converted into components that lie along a common set of lines.
The interactive page, captured in the image below, will allow you predict whether a particular set of starting angles will result in a net force. Can you adjust the vectors and make the net force equal to zero, making the tug-of-war a stalemate?
The Discover tab give you a chance to study the vectors and make a prediction.
The Explore tab gives control over the forces of the two weaker sides.
The Master tab does nothing at this point, but should someday ask you to predict how one side can force a draw, without relying on trial-and-error.
The More tab leads here.
Watch a football team try it out! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT7eTy-R7as
Want to see it with dogs? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44wV6OJgXy0
Interested in Tug of War strategy (via Squid Games)? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-F30F8eqyA
