Saturday, June 30, 2007

Component method Vector quantity

1. Choose an origin, sketch a coordinate system, and draw the vectors to be added (or summed).

2. Break (resolve) each vector into it's "x" and "y" components, using the following relationships: Ax = A cosine Ø, and, Ay = A sine Ø, where A is the vector, and Ø is the vector's angle.

3. Sum all the x-components and all the y-components obtaining a net resultant Rx, and Ry vectors.
Rx = Ax + Bx + Cx + . . ., &, Ry = Ay + By + Cy + . . .

4. Recombine Rx and Ry to obtain the final resultant vector (magnitude and direction)
Vector quantities (graphical method)


1 Start at the origin and draw the first vector (based on the numbers given you)
2 At the end of the first vector, make a new origin
3 Draw the second vector starting at the new origin
4 Connect the tail of the first vector to the head of the second