VECTORS: RESULTANTS AND COMPONENTS
Vectors
CP-02
Page 8
Rev. 0
Figure 8 Vector Addition in Same Direction
Figure 9 Vector Addition in Opposite Directions
VECTORS: RESULTANTS AND COMPONENTS
A resultant is a single vector which represents the combined effect of two or more other
vectors (called components). The components can be determined either graphically
or by using trigonometry.
EO 1.1
DEFINE the following as they relate to vectors:
c.
Vector component
d.
Resultant
EO 1.2
DETERMINE components of a vector from a resultant
vector.
Resultant
When two or more vectors are added they yield
the sum or resultant vector. A resultant vector is
the result or sum of vector addition. Vector
addition is somewhat different from addition of
pure numbers unless the addition takes place along
a straight line. In the latter case, it reduces to the
number line of standards or scale addition. For
example, if one walks five miles east and then
three miles east, he is eight miles from his starting
point. On a graph (Figure 8), the sum of the two
vectors, i.e., the sum of the five miles plus the
three mile displacement, is the total or resultant
displacement of eight miles.
Similarly, if one walks five miles east
and then three miles west, the resultant
displacement is two miles east (Figure
9).
The vector diagrams of Figure 8 and
Figure 9 are basically scale diagrams of
what is happening in the real world of
addition of vector quantities.
