COMPONENT ADDITION METHODVectorsCP-02Page 20Rev. 0Figure 21 Vector Addition Component MethodCOMPONENT ADDITION METHODVector components are added along each axis to determine the magnitude anddirection of the resultant.EO 1.3ADD vectors using the following methods:b.Component additionAnExplanationofComponentsThe component addition method refers to theaddition of vector coordinates on a rectangular(x,y) coordinate system. Coordinates, as seenin previous examples, locate a specific point inthe system. Relative to vectors, that specificpoint is the head of the vector. There are twoways to locate that point. The head can belocated by counting the units along the x-axisand the units along the y-axis, as illustrated inFigure 21, where the point has coordinates(4,3); i.e., the x component has a magnitude of4 and the y component has a magnitude of 3.The head can also be found by locating a vectorof the proper length on the positive side of thex-axis, with its tail at the intersection of the x-and y- axes. Then the vector is rotated a givennumber of degrees in the counterclockwise direction. In this example, the head of the vector islocated five units at 36.9 . Five units is the length of the vector.oUsingtheComponentAdditionMethodTo add vectors using the component addition method, use the following four step method.Step 1.Determine x- and y-axes components of all original vectors.Step 2.Mathematically combine all x-axis components.Note: When combining, recognize that positive x components at 180 are equivalentoto negative x components at 0 (+x at 180 = -x at 0 ).o o o
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