A vector quantity is written as a bold symbol or a small arrow above the symbol. Often a curved line draw under the symbol is used when the vector is hand written. The [2D] vector is specified in a frame of reference using an XY Cartesian coordinate by its Magnitude (size) positive scalar quantity Direction measured w.r.t. X axis projection of vector onto X axis X component Y component projection of vector onto Y axis Resolving a vector into its components A vector quantity can be into along each of resolved components the coordinate axes. To find the components of a vector draw a box around the vector and then draw the two Cartesian components as shown in figure (7). Fig. 4. Resolving a vector into its X and Y components. N.B. The two Cartesian components replace the original vector. Avoid the mistake of many students who add the two components to the original vector, thus counting it twice.
A vector quantity is written as a bold symbol or a small arrow above the symbol. Often a curved line draw under the symbol is used when the vector is hand written. The [2D] vector is specified in a frame of reference using an XY Cartesian coordinate by its Magnitude (size) positive scalar quantity Direction measured w.r.t. X axis X component projection of vector onto X axis Y component projection of vector onto Y axis Resolving a vector into its components A vector quantity can be resolved into components along each of the coordinate axes. To find the components of a vector draw a box around the vector and then draw the two Cartesian components as shown in figure (7). Fig. 4. Resolving a vector into its X and Y components. N.B. The two Cartesian components replace the original vector. Avoid the mistake of many students who add the two components to the original vector, thus counting it twice.