Vector Resolutions!

On Friday's class we first practiced finding X and Y components of vectors. By breaking down the vectors into these components we are able to add them algebraically!!
For the X component we use the trig function cos, and for the Y component we use sin.

We practiced how to find the components for the rest of the class and started working through our step booklet to figure out problems needing vector resolution.
Vector resolution must be used when vectors are not perpendicular to each other. The steps to find vector resolutions in problems such as these are:

• find the angle of each vector by measuring counterclockwise from the x-axis (this step will prevent sign confusion later on)
• find each vectors X and Y components (formula examples are above)
• add collinear vectors algebraically  (add the X components of each vector together-the direction will be East if the answer is positive and West if the answer is negative; add the Y components of each vector together-the direction will be North if the answer is positive and South if the answer is negative)
• use the Pythagorean Theorem to find the magnitude of the resultant vector

• use a trigonometric ratio to find the angle of the resultant vector (tan is used for this step- tan=opposite/adjacent)
• by using the answers from the previous two steps and example would like like: 23m[E42degreesN]

After working through the booklet we practiced the new steps and did some textbook questions, which are due today !! 

Tyrell is up next!