Resolving a Vector into Two Components

Θ was measured from the x-axis θ was measured from the y-axis
Ax
y A y
θ
Ay Ay A
θ
x x
Ax

cos θ = Ax/A
Ax = A cos θ Ax = A sin θ
Ay = A sin θ Ay = A cos θ

SIGN CONVENTIONS:
For x- component y-component
Rightward (towards the positive side of the x- axis), + Upward, +
Leftward (towards the negative side of the x-axis), - Downward, -
y
(-,+) (+,+)
x
(-,-) (+,-)

Resolve the following vectors into two components

a. A = 1000 km 1400
Ax = (1000 km)(cos 1400) = -(1000 km)(cos 400) = -766 km
Ay = (1000)(sin 1400) = (1000)(sin 400) A 1400
= 643 km
b. B = 150 N N 200 E 400
Bx = (150 N)( sin200) = (150 N)(cos 700) =51.3 N
By = (150 N)(cos 200) = (150 N)(sin 700) =141 N

c. C = 120 m/s -1600

Cx = (120 m/s)(cos 1600) = (120 m/s)(cos 2000) = -(120 m/s)cos 200) = -112.8 m/s
 Cy = -(120 m/s)(sin 1600) = (120 m/s)(sin 2000) = -(120 m/s)(sin 200) = -41 m/s

d. D = 10 m -900
Dx = (10 m)(cos 900) = (10 m)(cos 2700) = 0
Dy = -(10 m)(sin 900) = (10 m)(sin 2700) = -10 m
e. E = 120 cm - 2000
Ex = (120)(cos 200) = (120)(cos 160) = -(120)(cos 20) = -112.8 cm
Ey =

Find the magnitude and direction of the forces whose x and y components are
a. 10 N and -10 N b. -20 N and -30 N c. -5 N and 10 N
d. 20 N and -10 N e. 100 N and 0
Solutions: A
2 2
a. A = Ax + Ay 2 Ay
A = (10)2 +(10)2 θ
A = 14.14 N
tan θ = ǀAy/Axǀ θ = tan-1 ǀ10/10ǀ = 450
Ax
0 0
A = 14.14 N -45 (or 45 below the +x-axis)

b. B = 36 N θ = 56.30
B = 36 N 56.30 below the – x axis (or 236.30)
COMPONENT METHOD
B
C BY
Cy
Cx BX

RY R A Ay
ΘR

RX Ax
Rx Ax

Cx BX

Ax = 5 Bx = 7 Cx = 1 Rx = ?
Rx = Ax + Bx + Cx + ……….
Rx = 5 + (-7) + (-1) = -3
Ry = Ay + By + Cy + ……..
Rx = ΣX = Ax + Bx + . . . . . R = Rx2 + Ry2
Ry = ΣY = Ay + By + . . . . . θR = tan-1ǀRy/Rxǀ

EXAMPLES:
Vector A has components Ax = 3.0 m, Ay = -5.0 m. Vector B has components Bx = 4.0 m, and
By = 3.0 m. Find:
a. the components of A + B
b. the magnitude and direction of A + B
c. the components of B – A
d. the magnitude and direction of B – A
Solutions:
a. A + B = R Rx = Ax + Bx = 3 m + 4 m = 3 m + 4 m = 7 m
Ry = Ay + By = (-5 m) + 3 m = - 2m

R = Rx2 + Ry2 = (7 m)2 + (-2 m)2 = 7.28 m

ǀRyǀ
tan θR = ----- θR = tan-1 2/7 = 160
ǀRxǀ

R = 7.28 m -160 (or 3440 or 160 below the positive x-axis)

Determine the resultant of the following concurrent force systems.

B = 20 N

A = 10 N
D = 30 N 300

E = 10 N 600 C=5N
 Force x-comp. y-comp.
A = 10 N (10 N)(cos 300) 8.66 N (10 N)(sin300) 5N
B = 20 N (20 N)(cos 900) 0 (20 N)(sin 900) 20 N
(5 N)(cos 2700) (5 N)(sin 2700)
C=5N 0 -5 N
= (5 N)(cos 900) -(5 N)(sin 900)
(30 N)(cos 1800) (30 N)(sin 180)
D = 30 N -30 N 0
= -(30 N)(cos 00) = (30 N)(sin 00)
-(10 N)( cos 300) -(10 N)(sin 300)
E = 10 N -8.66 N -5
= -(10)(sin 600) = -(10 N)(cos 60)
Rx = ΣX -30 N Ry = ΣY 15 N

R = Rx2 + Ry2 = (-30 N)2 + (15 N)2

R = 33.54 N

15N
ΘR = tan-1 ------ = 26.60
30 N

R = 33.54 N 26.60 above the –x-axis (or 153.40)

A football player runs the pattern given in the diagram shown by the four displacement vectors
and the resultant. Compute the displacement of D and its direction θD.
B

A 350
C

510
ΘD
R
D

A=5m B = 15 m C = 18 m R = 10 m

Rx = Ax + Bx + Cx + Dx
(10 m)(cos 510) = (5 m)(cos 900) + (15 m)(cos 00) + (18 m)(cos 350) + Dx
6.3 m = 0 + 15m + 14.74 m + Dx
Dx = 6.3 m – 15 m – 14.74 m
Dx = -23.44 m
Ry = Ay + By + Cy + Dy
-(10 m)(sin 510) = (5 m)(sin 900) + (15 m)(sin 00) - (18 m)(sin 350) + Dy
- 7.77 m = 5 m + 0 – 10.32 m + Dy
Dy = -7.77 m – 5 m + 10 .32 m
Dy = - 2.45 m

D = (-23.44 m)2 + (-2.45 m)2

D = 23.57 m
ΘD = tan-1 2.45/23.44
ΘD = 60
D = 23.57 m 60 below the –x-axis

If the direction of the resultant force is to be 750 N directed along the positive x-axis, determine
the magnitude of F and its direction θ.

Solutions:
sinα = 12/13
13 cos α = 5/13
12
α
5
Rx = Fx + (600 N)(cos 450) + (325 N)(cos α) Ry = -(600 N)(sin 450) + Fy + (325 N)(sinα)
750 N = Fx + 424.26 N + (325 N)(5/13) 0 = -424.26 N + Fy + (325 N)(12/13)
Fx = 750 N -424.26 N – 125 N Fy = 424.26 N – 300 N
Fx = 200.74 N Fy = 124.26 N

F = (200.74 N)2 + (124.26 N)2 θF = tan-1 124.26/200.74

F =236 N θF = 31.760

F = 236 N 31.760
Determine the magnitude of the resultant force and its magnitude θ measured counter clockwise
from the positive x axis

F2 = 20 kN
F3 = 15 kN

Θ3
cos θ1 = 4/5 Θ1
sin θ1 = 3/5
F1 = 15 kN

Solutions:
Rx = F1x + F2x + F3x
Rx = F1 cos θ1 + F2 cos θ2 + F3cos θ3
Rx = (15 kN)(4/5) + (20 kN)(cos 900) + (15 kN)(4/5)
Rx = 12 kN + 0 + 12 kN
Rx = 24 kN

Ry = F1y + F2y + F3y

Ry = F1 sinθ1 + F2 sin θ2 + F3 sin θ3
Ry = -(15 kN)(3/5) + (20 kN)(sin 900) + (15 kN)(3/5)
Ry = - 9 kN + 20 kN +9 kN
Ry = 20 kN

R = (24 kN)2 + (20 kN)2 θR = tan-1(20 kN/24 kN)

R = 31.24 kN θR = 39.80

R = 31.24 kN 39.80
Determine the magnitude of the resultant force acting on the corbel and its direction θ measured
counterclockwise from the x axis.

F3 = 250 N F2 = 400 N
3 5
4 300
x F1 = 300 N

Solution:
FRx = ∑X
= F1x + F2x – F3x
= (300 N)(cos 00) + (400 N)(cos 300) – (250 N)(4/5)
= 300 N + 346.4 N – 200 N
FRx = 846.4 N

FRy = F1y + F2y + F3y

= (300 N)(sin 00) + (400 N)(sin 300) +(250 N)(3/5)
= 0 + 200 N + 150 N
FRy = 350 N
│Ry│ │350 N│
FR = √FRx2 + FRy2 tan θR = ------- θR = tan-1-------------
FR = √(846.4 N)2 + (350 N)2 │Rx │ │846.4 N│
FR = 916 N θR = 22.50
FR = 916 N 22.50