PH 201 Post-Lab 02

Vectors

Name

Solution

1. A force is 7.3 N at an angle of 143˚. What are the x and y components of this force? (if the component is along a negative axis, then you should include the minus sign.)

Since the angle is defined from the standard +x axis, we can use Cosine for x component and Sine for y component
X component


Y component

X – Component

-5.83 N

Y – Component

4.39 N

2. A force has components of 3.9 N along the -x axis and -5.8 N along the -y axis. What is the magnitude of the force and the angle (0 to 360˚) at which this force is directed?

Note: the y component is a negative value along the negative axis, which means a positive value on the positive y axis. Since the components are at right angles we can use the Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude of the vector and the arctangent to get the angle for the direction.

Magnitude is


Angle is
	This must be in Quadrant II so we need to add 180° to have angle from + axis.

Magnitude

6.99 N

Direction

123.9° from the + axis or 56.1° above - axis.

Over à

3. Consider the vectors A which is 6.5 units at 150˚ and B which is 4.25 units at 300˚. Find the resultant and the Equilibrant vectors (Magnitude and direction).

First break each vector A and B into the standard x and y components and then find net x and y components and finally use Pythagorean Theorem to find magnitude and arctangent to find the standard angle.