Components of Vectors

Prepared by:
Victor Rea Oribe
Components of a Vector

Motion in two dimensions can

be described by using VECTORS
such as:

a) FORCE (F)

b) DISPLACEMENT (d)

c) VELOCITY (v)

d) ACCELERATION (a)
Each VECTORS may be broken down
or resolved into two components:

a) X – component
(or horizontal
component)

b) Y – component
(or vertical
component)
 Representation of Component
vectors

Vector X- Y-
component component
Force, F FX FY
Displacement , d dx dy
Velocity , v vx vy
Acceleration, a ax ay
The magnitude and direction of the
components of a vector may be
found using the concepts of:

a) rectangular
coordinate
system
b) Trigonometric functions
When you draw the component
of a vector you should use the
tail to head connections.
Example:
A force of 80.0 N is applied y a janitor on
the handle of a mop held at 400 angle with
the floor. What force is pushing the mop
(a) across the floor and (b) downward to
the floor

Given:
F = 80.0 N θ = 400

Unknown:
FX = force that pushes the mop across the floor
FY = force that pushes the mop downward on the
floor.
Given: F = 80.0 N Unknown: a) FX b) FY

F=80-N
FY = ?

400

FX = ?
Solutions:

Cos 400 = FY / F
F=80-N FY = F cos 400
= (80.0-N) (0.77)
= 61.6 N

FY = ? Sin 400 = FX / F
FX = F sin 400
400 = (80.0N) (0.64)
= 51.20
FX = ?
 An airplane travels 209 km on a straight
course at an angle of 22.50 east of north.
It then changes its course by moving 100
km north before reaching its destination.
Determine the resultant displacement of
the airplane.
Given: (a) d1=209km, 22.5EN (b) d2=100km,N (c) dR
Vector diagram:
N (+Y)
N (+Y)

d2 100 km
W (-X) 22.50
W (-X) E (+X)
E (+X)

S (-Y) S (-Y)
 Finding the components of d1x
N (+Y)
d1y
d1 =209km

22.50 E (+X)
W (-X) d1x

S (-Y) d1x
0.383 =
Θ = 900 – 22.50 209 km
= 67.50
Adjacent side d1x = (209 km)(0.383)
Cos 67.5 =0
hypotenuse
d1x
0.383 = d1x = 80.0 km
d1
 Finding the components of d1y
N (+Y)
d1y = ?
d1 =209km d1y =193km

22.50 E (+X)
W (-X) d1x = ?
S (-Y) d1y
0.924 =
Θ = 900 – 22.50 209 km
= 67.50
opposite side d1y = (209 km)(0.924)
sin 67.5 =
0
hypotenuse
d1y
0.924 = d1y = 193 km
d1
 N (+Y)
Finding the components
d1y =193.0km of d2
d1 =209km N (+Y)
22.50
E (+X)
d1x = 80.0km d2y = 100.0km

W (-X) E (+X)

S (-Y)

Displacement X-component Y-component

d1 + 80.0 km +193.0 km
d2 0 +100.0 km
Σ Σdx = 80.0 km Σdy =293.0 km
 Displacement X-component Y-component
d1 + 80.0 km +193.0 km
d2 0 +100.0 km
Σ Σdx = 80.0 km Σdy =293.0 km

N (+Y) By the Pythagorean Theorem

dR = √ (dx)2 + (dy)2

= √ 80.0km2 + 293.0km2

dR =304km = √ 6,400 km2 + 85,849 km2

Σdy = 293.0 km = √ 92,249 km2

= 304 km
W (-X) θ = 74.70 tan θ = Σdy ÷ Σdx
E(+X)
Σdx = 80.0 km tan θ = 293.0 ÷ 80.0

tan θ = 3.66
θ = 74.70
S (-Y) Shift –tan θ =
Practice Exercise
1. A man exerts a force of 200 N on a
wheelbarrow at an angle of 300 above the
horizontal. What are the horizontal and
vertical forces exerted on the handle of the
wheelbarrow?
2. A`plane flying due north at 100m/s is blown by
a 50 m/s strong wind due east.
a. Draw a diagram to illustrate the problem
b. What is the plane’s resultant velocity?

3. Find the components of the following vectors

(present the data in tabular form)
a. The initial velocity of a golf is 10 m/s, 320
north of west.
b. A force of 120 N pulls a loaded box 400
south of west.