Vector Resolution Objectives 1. Define sine, cosine and tangent 2. Resolve vectors into horizontal and vertical components General Information • Resultants are the combination of ANY two vectors • Vectors that do not form right triangles can be broken down into the components that form a right triangle – Horizontal and vertical components can be combined by addition – Those two types of components form right triangles Advice • • • • Always draw a diagram Include the reference angle in your diagram Sketch in the horizontal and vertical components Make sure you accurately represent the exact direction of the components – The two components should combine head-to-tail – Be sure the components are drawn as arrows SOH CAH TOA • Sine = opposite ÷ hypotenuse • Cosine = adjacent ÷ hypotenuse • Tangent = opposite ÷ adjacent So What Now? • Multiply the magnitude of the hypotenuse by the sine of the angle for the magnitude of the opposite side. • Multiply the magnitude of the hypotenuse by the cosine of the angle for the magnitude of the adjacent side. Common Pitfalls • Vector resolution does not use the inverse functions if you already know the angle. • Use your diagram to figure out which components are the opposite and adjacent sides • You can use the inverse of sine or cosine to calculate the angle 1. What are the vertical and horizontal components of a velocity vector with a magnitude of 75.3 m/s at 27° E of S? Vector Diagram Draw in Components Horizontal Component • In this case the horizontal component is the opposite side • Use sine • Sin 27 x 75.3 = 0.454 x 75.3 = 34.2 34.2 m/s east Vertical Component • In THIS case the vertical component is the adjacent side. • Use cosine • cos 27 x 75.3 = 0.891 x 75.3 = 67.1 67.1 m/s south 2. What are the horizontal and vertical components of a 55 m/s vector at 215º? Angle Calculation • • • • 215º is not suitable for the calculator Need to convert it to an angle less than 90º The vector is going southwest Could convert it one of two ways • 270 – 215 = 55º S of W • 215 – 180 = 35º W of S Sketch Add In Components Adjacent Side • In THIS case, the vertical component is the adjacent side of the triangle. • Since you know the angle and the hypotenuse, use the cosine • Cos 35 x 55 = 0.819 x 55 = 45 45 m/s south Opposite Side • In THIS case, the horizontal component is the opposite side of the triangle. • Since you know the angle and the hypotenuse, use the sine • Sin 35 x 55 = 0.574 x 55 = 31.5 31.5 m/s West 3. 365 m/s at an angle 15º to the horizon Information • Since no specific direction is given, the best you can say is that the two components go up and across • This is the common description for artillery shots Sketch Horizontal Component • In THIS case the horizontal component is the adjacent side. • Use Cosine • cos 15 x 365 = 0.966 x 365 = 353 353 m/s across Vertical Component • In THIS case the vertical component is the opposite side. • Use sine • sin 15 x 365 = 0.259 x 365 = 94.5 94.5 m/s up 4. A pilot wishes to fly his plane to an airport north of his current location. The plane has a speed of 290 m/s. A. If he is confronted by a wind blowing east at 50 m/s, in what direction will he need to head in order to reach the desired destination? Questions About the Question • If the pilot heads due north, where will he end up? – East of where he wants to be • So in what general direction must he head? – Northwest • Draw the sketch to reflect this. Sketch Angle Calculation • • • • • • • The question only asks for direction. Only need to find the angle What information is known about the triangle? Which function do you use? Sin = O ÷ H = 50 ÷ 290 = 0.172 To get the angle, use the inverse Sin-1 0.172 = 9.93º 9.93º W of N B. How long will it take him to reach the airport if it is 800 km away? • 800 km = 800,000 m • The airport is due north of where the plane is. • The velocity vector and displacement need to be in the same direction. (north) • You need to solve for the vector heading due north. • There are three ways to do this – Use Pythagorean Theorem – Use cosine – Use tangent The Three Methods • Using Pythagorean Theorem b= c −a = 2 2 290 − 50 = 2 2 84100 − 2500 = 81600 = 286 • Using cosine = a (= h) cos θ (290) cos = 9.93 286 • Using tangent Opposite 50 50 a = = = = 286 tanθ tan 9.93 0.175 Time Calculation • The airport is 800,000 m away. • The plane is moving north at 286 m/s • t = d ÷ v = 800000 ÷ 286 = 2797 seconds Or about 46 minutes and 37 seconds