Competency Goal 4: The learner

will develop an understanding of

forces and Newton's Laws of
Motion.

4.05 Assess the independence of the

vector components of forces.
 The Components of a Vector

•Suppose a car moves along a straight line from start to

finish. The displacement vector is shown by r.
•However, the car could also arrive at the finish by first
moving due east, then turning 90o, and then moving due
north.
 The Components of a Vector

• The vectors x and y are called the x and y vector

components of r.
• Components are the horizontal and vertical
parts of a vector.
 The Components of a Vector

• The components x and y, when added

vectorally, convey exactly the same meaning as
does the original vector r.
• They indicate how the finish point is displaced
relative to the starting point.
 The Components of a Vector

• In general, the components of any

vector can be used in place of the
vector itself in any calculation where it
is convenient to do so.
 The Components of a Vector

• The other feature of vector components is that x

and y are not just any two vectors added together
to give the original vector r …
• … they are perpendicular vectors.
• This perpendicular characteristic is a valuable asset
in problem solving, as we will soon see.
 The Components of a Vector
• Any type of vector
may be expressed in
terms of its
components, in a way
similar to that
illustrated.
 The Components of a Vector
• There are times when
this drawing is not the
most convenient way to
represent vector
components.

• An alternate method:
• The disadvantage of
this method is that the
head-to-tail arrangement
is missing.
 DEFINITION OF VECTOR
COMPONENTS

In two dimensions, the vector components of

vector A are two perpendicular vectors Ax
and Ay that are parallel to the x and y
axes, respectively, and add together
vectorally so that
A = Ax + Ay
 SCALAR COMPONENTS
• It is often easier to work with scalar
components, Ax and Ay (note that the
italics symbols), rather than the vector
components Ax and Ay.
• Scalar components are positive or
negative numbers (with units).
RESOLVING A VECTOR INTO ITS
COMPONENTS
• If the magnitude and direction of a vector are
known, it is possible to find the components of
the vector.
• The process of finding the components of a
vector is called “resolution.”
• As the next example illustrates, the process can
be carried out with the aid of trigonometry
because the two perpendicular components
always form a right triangle.
 Example – Finding the Components of a Vector
A displacement vector r has a
magnitude of r = 175 m and
points at an angle of 50.0o
relative to the x axis.
Find the x and y components.
• Reasoning We will
base our solution on
the fact that the
triangle formed by
vector r and its
components x and y
is a right triangle.
• Therefore, we can
use the sine and
cosine functions from
trig.
 Example – Finding the Components of a Vector
A displacement vector r has a
• Solution 1 The y component can
magnitude of r = 175 m and
o be obtained using the 50.0o angle
points at an angle of 50.0
and sin θ = y/r:
relative to the x axis.
y = r sin θ
Find the x and y components. = (175 m)(sin 50.0o)
= 134 m
• In a similar way, the x component
can be found using cos θ = x/r:
x = r cos θ
= (175 m )(sin 50.0o)
= 112 m
 Example – Finding the Components of a Vector
A displacement vector r has a • Solution 2 The angle α can also be
magnitude of r = 175 m and used to find the components.
points at an angle of 50.0o • Since α + 50.0o = 90.0o, it follows
relative to the x axis. that α = 40.0o.
Find the x and y components. • The solution using α yields the
same answers as in Solution 1:
cos α = y/r
y = r cos α
= (175 m)(cos 40.0o)
= 134 m

sin α = x/r:
x = r sin α
= (175 m )(sin 40.0o)
= 112 m
RESOLVING A VECTOR INTO ITS
COMPONENTS
• Problem solving insight:
• It is possible for one of the components of
a vector to be zero. This does not mean
that the vector itself is zero, however.
• For a vector to be zero, every vector
component must be individually be
zero.
RESOLVING A VECTOR INTO ITS
COMPONENTS
• Problem solving insight:
• Two vectors are equal if, and only if,
they have the same magnitude and
direction.
• Thus, if one displacement vector points
east and another points north, they are not
equal, even if they have the same
magnitude of 480 m.
 Vector Addition by Means of
Components
• The components of a vector provide the
most convenient and accurate way of
adding (or subtracting) any number of
vectors.
 Vector Addition by Means of
Components
• For example, suppose that vector A is
added to vector B.
• The resultant is C, where C = B + A.
 Vector Addition by Means of
Components
• In part (b), the vector Bx has been shifted down
and arranged head-to-tail with Ax.
• Similarly, By and Ay have been added head-to-
tail.
 Vector Addition by Means of
Components
• The x components are colinear …
and add together to give the x component of
resultant C.
 Vector Addition by Means of
Components
• Similarly, the y components are colinear …
and add together to give the y component of
resultant C.
 Vector Addition by Means of
Components
• In terms of scalar components, we can write
C2 = Cx2 + Cy2
• The angle θ that C makes with the x axis is given by
θ = tan-1 (Cy/Cx).
Example Vector Addition by Components
• A jogger runs 145 m in a
direction 20.0o east of
north (displacement
vector A) and then 105 m
in a direction 35.0o south
of east (displacement
vector B).
• Determine the magnitude
and direction of the
resultant vector C for
these two displacements.
Example Vector Addition by Components
• Reasoning First, we
need to find the
components of A and
B.
• We will add all of the
components of A and B
to find the components
of C.
• Finally, we will use the
Pythagorean theorem
and trig to find C.
Example Vector Addition by Components

• Solution The first two rows of the table below give the x and y
components of the vectors A and B. Note that the component of B
will be negative, since By points south.

Vector x Component y Component

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A Ax = (145 m) sin 20.0o = 49.6 m Ay = (145 m) cos 20.0o = 136 m
B Bx = (105 m) cos 35.0o = 86.0 m By = (105 m) sin 35.0o = -60.2 m
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
C Cx = Ax + Bx = 135.6 m Cy = Ay +By = 76 m
Example Vector Addition by Components
• The third row of the
table gives the x and
y components of the
resultant vector C.
• Part (b) of the
drawing shows C and
its vector
components.
 Example Vector Addition by Components
• The magnitude of C is
found using the
Pythagorean theorem as

C = √Cx2 + Cy2

= √(135.6 m)2 + (76 m)2

= 155 m

C makes an angle with the x axis by

θ = tan-1 (76 m / 135.6 m) = 29o

You have finished the vector
components powerpoint.

So finally, the goal & objective

again:
Competency Goal 4: The learner
will develop an understanding of
forces and Newton's Laws of
Motion.

4.05 Assess the independence of the

vector components of forces.