Vectors
VECTORS: RESULTANTS AND COMPONENTS
Rev. 0
Page 13
CP-02
Figure 14 F = 50 lbf at 53
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Example 1:
Determine the component vectors, F and F , for F = 50 lbf at 53 in Figure 14.
x
y
R
o
Use trigonometric functions.
F is calculated as follows:
x
cos = adjacent/hypotenuse
cos = F /F or F = F cos
x
R
x
R
F = (50)(cos53 )
x
o
F = (50)(0.6018)
x
F = 30 lbf on x-axis
x
F is calculated as follows:
y
sin = opposite/hypotenuse
sin = F /F or F = F sin
y
R
y
R
F = (F )(sin )
y
R
F = (50)(sin 53 )
y
o
F = (50)(0.7986)
y
F = 40 lbf on y-axis
y
Therefore, the components for F are F = 30 lbf at 0 and F = 40 lbf at 90 . Note that this result
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x
y
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o
is identical to the result obtained using the graphic method.
