Lesson 2.
Components of
Vectors
General Physics 1/2
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Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
A truss bridge is composed of interconnected
beams arranged in a repeated triangular
pattern.
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Each component of
the bridge adds to
its ability to hold its
own weight as well
as the weight of
everything that uses
it.
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Some of its parts
can accommodate
compression forces
while some handle
tension forces.
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A force, which is a vector quantity, being
experienced by a diagonal beam in the
bridge can be resolved into its two
components.
Determination of these force components is
important in calculating and determining its
maximum strength.
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How are the components of
forces determined?
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Learning Competency
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the
following:
Rewrite a vector in component form
(STEM_GP12V-Ia-10).
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Learning Objectives
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to do the
following:
● Apply the analytical method to calculate the
components of a vector.
● Calculate the magnitude and the direction of
the resultant vector using its components.
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How are the components of
a vector calculated?
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Components of a Vector
Consider a displacement vector pointing northeast.
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Components of a Vector
It also has a component along the north (vertical
axis).
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Components of a Vector
It has a component along the east (horizontal axis).
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Components of a Vector
A vector can be resolved into its components.
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Components of a Vector
Can you resolve the components in this vector?
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Components of a Vector
The direction of the vector
angle 𝜃 (Greek letter
can be presented as
for theta), measured in a
counterclockwise
direction from the +x-
axis.
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Components of a Vector
Consider a right triangle below.
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Components of a Vector
The sides of the triangle can be defined from the angle.
Legend:
h = hypotenuse
(hyp)
o = opposite (opp)
a = adjacent (adj)
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Components of a Vector
Trigonometric functions can be expressed as the
following equations:
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Remember
In calculating the sine, cosine, and
tangent, make sure that your
calculator is in degree mode since
the angles or directions are given in
degrees. Otherwise, you will get a
different value for your final answer.
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Components of a Vector
Suppose we have the following displacement vector.
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Components of a Vector
It has a component in the vertical axis.
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Components of a Vector
It has a component in the horizontal axis.
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Components of a Vector
The relationships between its components and its angle
can be expressed as the given equations:
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Components of a Vector
Hence, trigonometrically, we can define the components
as the following equations.
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When should you use the
given equations for the x-
and y-components of a
vector?
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Let’s Practice!
What are the x- and y-components of a
displacement vector with a magnitude of 50 m
and an angle of 30°?
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Let’s Practice!
What are the x- and y-components of a
displacement vector with a magnitude of 50 m
and an angle of 30°?
The x-component of the vector is 43.30 m while
its y-component is 25 m.
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Try It!
Find the components of a velocity
vector 60 m/s, 20°.
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Let’s Practice!
A car has a displacement of 750 m, 45° north
of west. What are the components of the
displacement vector?
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Let’s Practice!
A car has a displacement of 750 m, 45° north
of west. What are the components of the
displacement vector?
The x-component of the vector is ‒530.33 m
while its y-component is 530.33 m.
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Try It!
Alexa pushed a crate with a force
of 120 N, at an angle of 15° south
of west. What are its components?
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Let’s Practice!
A vector located in the second quadrant has
an x-component of ‒80 m at an angle of 20°,
as shown in the figure below. Find the
magnitude of the vector and its y-component.
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Let’s Practice!
A vector located in the second quadrant has
an x-component of ‒80 m at an angle of 20°,
as shown in the figure below. Find the
magnitude of the vector and its y-component.
The magnitude of the vector is 233.90 m while
its y-component is 219.80 m.
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Try It!
quadrant has an angle 𝜃 = ‒60°
A vector located in the fourth
and has a y-component of ‒35 N.
Find the (a) magnitude of the
vector and (b) its x-component.
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Calculating the Resultant Vector
● In the same way that a vector can be resolved into
its components, a vector’s magnitude and direction
can also be calculated using its components.
● Trigonometric functions involving the angle and the
ratio of the sides of a right triangle can also be used
to calculate the resultant vector.
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Calculating the Resultant Vector
The resultant vector can be calculated using
Pythagorean theorem.
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Calculating the Resultant Vector
The angle or direction of the vector is determined using
the inverse tangent function of the ratio of the x- and y-
components.
To ensure that your final answer is correct it is very
important that you check the signs of the x- and y-
components. 37
Tips
It would be very helpful to draw a
sketch to identify the location of the
x- and y-components. In this way,
you will be able to easily identify the
location of the angle (direction) in
the Cartesian plane.
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Let’s Practice!
What is the magnitude and direction of a
displacement vector if its components are as
follows: Ax = 10 m, Ay = 5 m?
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Let’s Practice!
What is the magnitude and direction of a
displacement vector if its components are as
follows: Ax = 10 m, Ay = 5 m?
11.18 m and a direction of 𝜃 = 26.57° or 26.57°
The displacement vector has a magnitude of
north of east.
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Try It!
A force vector has components of
Fx = 90 N and Fy = 120 N. What is
the magnitude and direction of the
said vector?
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Let’s Practice!
An airplane covered a displacement vector
with components of Dx= ‒2500 km and Dy=
1800 km. What is the magnitude and direction
of the displacement vector?
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Let’s Practice!
An airplane covered a displacement vector
with components of Dx= ‒2500 km and Dy=
1800 km. What is the magnitude and direction
of the displacement vector?
3080.58 km and a direction of 𝜃 = 144.25°
The displacement vector has a magnitude of
from the +x-axis.
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Try It!
A truck traveled at a specific
velocity. It has components of Vx =
75 m/s and Vy = ‒90 m/s. What is
the velocity of the truck?
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Let’s Practice!
A displacement vector located in the first
quadrant has a magnitude of 50 km and has
an x-component of 44 km. Find the (a) y-
component of the vector and (b) its direction
from the +x-axis.
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Let’s Practice!
A displacement vector located in the first
quadrant has a magnitude of 50 km and has
an x-component of 44 km. Find the (a) y-
component of the vector and (b) its direction
from the +x-axis.
The y-component of the vector is 23.75 km. The
direction of the vector is 28.36° from the +x-
axis.
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Try It!
A force vector located in the third
quadrant has a magnitude of 265 N
and has a y-component of ‒150 N.
What is the x-component of the
force vector? What is its direction
when measured from the +x-axis.
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Check Your
Understanding
Identify the components of the following
vectors.
1. 35 m, 75°
2. 20 km, 10° north of east
3. 65 N, 55° south of west
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Check Your
Understanding
Calculate the magnitude and direction of the
vector using the following components.
1. Ax = 250 N, Ay = 550 N
2. Ax = 5 km, Ay = 8 km
3. Ax = ‒850 m, Ay = ‒600 m
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Let’s Sum It Up!
● A vector at an angle can be resolved into its
two components: a component parallel to the
horizontal axis (x-axis) and another
component parallel to the vertical axis (y-
axis).
● The components of a vector are calculated
using the trigonometric functions sine and
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Let’s Sum It Up!
● Angle 𝜃 should be measured in a
counterclockwise direction from the positive
x-axis to use the given equations for the x-
and y-components.
● The magnitude and direction of a vector can
be calculated through its two components
using the Pythagorean theorem and the
tangent function. 51
Key Formulas
Concept Formula Description
Use this formula to
Components of
solve the x-
Vectors
where component of a
● Ax is the x- vector.
component of the
vector
● A is the magnitude
● 𝜃 is the angle
of the vector
measured from
the +x-axis
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Key Formulas
Concept Formula Description
Use this formula to
Components of
solve the y-
Vectors
where component of a
● Ay is the y- vector.
component of the
vector
● A is the magnitude
● 𝜃 is the angle
of the vector
measured from
the +x-axis
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Key Formulas
Concept Formula Description
Use this formula to
Components of
solve the magnitude
Vectors
where of a vector.
● A is the magnitude
of the vector
● Ax is the x-
component of the
vector
● Ay is the y-
component of the
vector
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Key Formulas
Concept Formula Description
Use this formula to
Components of
determine the
Vectors
● 𝜃 is the angle
where direction of a vector.
● Ax is the x-
component of the
vector
● Ay is the y-
component of the
vector
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Challenge Yourself
Suppose that the x-component
of a vector is positive while its y-
component is negative. Are the
angles 250° and –45° both
possible directions for the said
vector?
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Bibliography
Bauer, W., and Gary D. Westfall. University Physics with Modern Physics. New York: McGraw-
Hill,
2013.
Faughn, Jerry S. and Raymond A. Serway. Serway’s College Physics (7th ed). Singapore:
Brooks/Cole,
2006.
Knight, Randall Dewey. Physics for Scientists and Engineers: a Strategic Approach with
Modern
Physics. Pearson, 2017.
Serway, Raymond A. and John W. Jewett, Jr. Physics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern
Physics (9th
ed). USA: Brooks/Cole, 2014.
Young, Hugh D., Roger A. Freedman, and A. Lewis Ford. Sears and Zemansky’s University
Physics with
Modern Physics (13th ed). USA: Pearson Education, 2012.
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