Rectangular Components of a Vector
Rectangular components are the projections of that vector onto the coordinate axes of a Cartesian coordinate system. In a two-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system, a vector can be decomposed into its horizontal and vertical components.
Horizontal Component
Horizontal component lies along the x-axis. If the angle between the vector and the horizontal axis is θ, then:
Horizontal Component = Magnitude of Vector × cos(θ)
Vertical Component
Vertical component lies along the y-axis. If the angle between the vector and the horizontal axis is θ, then:
Vertical Component = Magnitude of Vector × sin(θ)
Resolution of Vectors
Vector Resolution is splitting a vector into its components along different coordinate axes. When a vector is expressed in terms of its components, it becomes easier to analyze its effects in different directions. This process is particularly useful when dealing with vector quantities such as forces, velocities etc.
Vector resolution is a powerful tool in physics and engineering, that enables the analysis and prediction of complex physical phenomena by simplifying vectors into manageable components.
Table of Content
- What are Vectors?
- What is Vector Resolution?
- Rectangular Components of a Vector
- Method of Resolving a Vector
- Trigonometric Method of Vector Resolution
- Applications of Vector Resolution