Difference between revisions of "Resolve a Vector Into Components"
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A vector is a graphic representation of some physical force. It could represent motion, such as a plane traveling in a northeasterly direction at {{convert|400|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=1}}. It could also represent a force, such as a ball that rolls off a table and falls diagonally downward due to the force of gravity and its initial speed off the table. It is often useful to be able to calculate the component parts of any vector. That is, how much force (or speed, or whatever else your vector is measuring) is applied in the horizontal direction, and how much is applied in the vertical direction. You can do this graphically, using some simple geometry. For more precise calculations, you can use trigonometry. | A vector is a graphic representation of some physical force. It could represent motion, such as a plane traveling in a northeasterly direction at {{convert|400|mph|km/h|abbr=on|round=1}}. It could also represent a force, such as a ball that rolls off a table and falls diagonally downward due to the force of gravity and its initial speed off the table. It is often useful to be able to calculate the component parts of any vector. That is, how much force (or speed, or whatever else your vector is measuring) is applied in the horizontal direction, and how much is applied in the vertical direction. You can do this graphically, using some simple geometry. For more precise calculations, you can use trigonometry. | ||
| − | [[Category:Coordinate Geometry]] | + | [[Category: Coordinate Geometry]] |
== Steps == | == Steps == | ||
===Identifying Components by Graphing=== | ===Identifying Components by Graphing=== | ||
