Components of Vector

Learning Outcomes:
• Solve for the component of a vector
• Solve for the resultant vector using component method.
Components of Vector
• Measuring a diagram offers only very limited accuracy, and
calculations with right triangles work only when the two vectors are
perpendicular.
• So we need a simple but general method for adding vectors. This is
called the method of components.
• To define the components of a vector, we start by creating a
rectangular coordinate system
• Draw the vector with its tail O at the origin
Components of Vector
• We can represent any vector lying in
the xy-plane as the sum of a vector
parallel to the x-axis and a vector
parallel to the y-axis.
• These two vectors are labeled
𝐴𝑥 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝐴𝑦 in the Figure, they are
called the component vectors of
vector 𝑨 and their vector sum is equal
to 𝑨. In symbols,
𝑨 = 𝐴𝑥 + 𝐴𝑦
Components of a Vector
• For any vector whose magnitude and direction are known we can
easily calculate for its rectangular components.
•  is measured in the positive counter-clockwise direction
Ax Ay
= cos  and = sin 
A A
Ax = A cos  and Ay = A sin 

A = Ax + Ay
2 2

Ay Ay
tan  = and  = arctan
Ax Ax
Components of Vector
Example 1
What are the x- and y-components of vector? The magnitude of the
vector is D = 3.00 m and the angle ∝ = 45°.
Example 1: Solution
Identify
The magnitude and direction of a vector are given, and we are asked to
find its components.

Set-up
We need to be careful because the angles are not measured from the
+x-axis toward the +y-axis.
Example 1: Solution
Execute
The angle between D and the positive x-axis is a (the Greek letter
alpha), but this angle is measured toward the negative y-axis. So the
angle we must use = - ∝ = - 45°.

𝐷𝑥 = 𝐷 cos 𝜗 = 3.00 𝑚 cos −45° = +2.1 𝑚

β
Example 2: Solution
What are the x- and y-components of vector E? The magnitude of the
vector is E = 4.50 m and the angle 𝛽 = 37.0°.
Example 2: Solution
Identify
The magnitude and direction of a vector are given, and we are asked to
find its components.

Set-up
The x-axis isn’t horizontal nor is the y-axis vertical. In general, any
orientation of the x- and y-axes is permissible, just so the axes are
mutually perpendicular. Here angle  is angle between 𝐸 and the
positive y-axis, not positive x-axis, so we cannot use this angle in our
equation
Example 2: Solution
Execute
Instead, 𝐸 defines the hypotenuse of a right triangle; the other two
sides of the triangle are the magnitudes of Ex and Ey, the x- and y-
components of 𝐸 . The sine of  is the opposite side (magnitude of Ex)
divided by the hypotenuse (magnitude of E), and cosine of  is the
adjacent side (magnitude of Ey) divided by hypotenuse (magnitude of
E). Both components of 𝐸 are positive, so
Example 2: Solution
Evaluate
Had we used the equation directly and written
Ex = E cos 37.0 and Ey = E sin 37.0, our answers for Ex and Ey would
have been reversed.
In order to use the equation , you must first find the angle between 𝐸
and the positive x-axis, measured toward the positive y-axis; this is  =
90.0 −  = 90.0 − 37.0 = 53.0. Then Ex = E cos  and Ey = E sin .
You can substitute the values of E and  into the equation to show that
the results for Ex and Ey are the same as given above.
Vector Addition: Component Method
To find the resultant vector:
IDENTIFY and SET UP:
1. Decide what your target variable is.
2. It may be the magnitude of the vector sum, the direction, or both.
3. Draw the individual vectors being summed and the coordinate axes
being used.
4. In the drawing, place the tail of first vector at the origin of
coordinates, place tail of second vector at the head of first vector,
and so on.
5. Draw the vector sum from the tail of the first vector to the head
of the last vector.
6. From the drawing, make a rough estimate of the magnitude and
direction of 𝑅 , you’ll use the estimates to check your calculations
later
Vector Addition: Component Method
EXECUTE:
1. Find the x- and y-components of each individual vector
and record your results in a table.
2. If a vector is described by its magnitude A and its angle
, measured from the +x-axis toward the +y-axis, then
the components given by
Ax = A cos  Ay = A sin 
3. The components could be positive or negative,
depending on how the vector is oriented (that is, what
quadrant  lies in.
Vector Addition: Component Method
4. Use the following sign table as a check:

Quadrant I II III IV
Ax + - - +
Ay + + - -

5. If angles of vectors are given in other way, use a different

R = Rx 2 + R y 2
Ry
 = arctan
Rx
Vector Addition: Component Method
EVALUATE:
1. Check your results for magnitude and direction of the
vector sum by comparing them with the initial rough
estimates made from the drawing.
2. Remember that R is always positive and  is measured
from the positive x-axis. Value of  found with a
calculator may be the correct one or may be off by 180°.
3. If calculations disagree totally with estimates from
drawing, check whether calculator is set in “radians” or
“degrees” mode. If in “radians” mode, entering angles in
degrees will give nonsensical answers.
Example 3
Three players on a reality TV show are brought to the center of a large,
fIat field. Each is given a meter stick, a compass, a calculator, a shovel,
and (in a different order for each contestant) the following three
displacements:
72.4 m, 32.0⁰ east of north
57.3 m, 36.0⁰ south of west
17.8 m straight south
The three displacements lead to the point where the keys to a new
Porsche are buried. Two players start measuring immediately, but the
winner first calculates where to go. What does she calculate?
Example 3: Solution
Identify
The goal is to find the sum (resultant)
of the three displacement.

Set-up
Calculate the angle from +x axis
A: 90 ⁰ – 32⁰ = 58 ⁰
B: 180⁰ + 36⁰ = 216⁰
C: 270⁰
Example 3: Solution
Execute
Calculate the components of each displacement
Example 3: Solution
Evaluate
Our calculated answers for R and  are not too different from our
estimates of 10 m and 40 west of north; that’s good! Note that  =
−51, or 51 south of east, also satisfies the equation for . But since
the winner has made a drawing of the displacement vectors, she
knows that  = 129 is the only correct solution for the angle.
Example 4
After an airplane takes off, it travels 10.4 km west, 8.7 km north, and
2.1 km up. How far is it from the takeoff point?
Example 4: Solution
Let the +x-axis be east, the +y-axis north, and the +z-axis up.
Then Ax = −10.4 km, Ay = 8.7 km, and Az = 2.1 km.

The resultant vector gives

A= (− 10.4 km)2 + (8.7 km)2 + (2.1 km)2 = 13.7 km