Vector A has y-component Ay = +9.60 m. A makes an angle of 32.0° counterclockwise from the +y-axis. (a) What is the x-component of A? (b) What is the magnitude of A?
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3. Vectors
Vector Composition & Decomposition
Problem 17b
Textbook Question
Two vectors, and , add to a resultant . Describe and if .

1
Step 1: Recognize that the equation Vᵣ² = V₁² + V₂² resembles the Pythagorean theorem, which applies to right triangles. This suggests that the vectors V₁ and V₂ are perpendicular to each other.
Step 2: Understand that when two vectors are perpendicular, their resultant vector forms the hypotenuse of a right triangle, with the two vectors as the legs of the triangle.
Step 3: To confirm this, recall that the magnitude of the resultant vector Vᵣ is given by |Vᵣ| = √(V₁² + V₂²) when the vectors are perpendicular. Squaring both sides gives Vᵣ² = V₁² + V₂², which matches the given condition.
Step 4: Conclude that V₁ and V₂ must be at a 90° angle to each other for the given relationship Vᵣ² = V₁² + V₂² to hold true.
Step 5: If needed, represent the vectors graphically or mathematically to verify their perpendicularity, ensuring that the angle between them is indeed 90°.

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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Vector Addition
Vector addition is the process of combining two or more vectors to produce a resultant vector. This involves adding the corresponding components of the vectors, which can be visualized graphically using the head-to-tail method. The resultant vector represents the cumulative effect of the individual vectors in both magnitude and direction.
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Vector Addition By Components
Pythagorean Theorem in Vector Context
The Pythagorean theorem states that in a right triangle, the square of the length of the hypotenuse is equal to the sum of the squares of the lengths of the other two sides. In the context of vectors, if two vectors are perpendicular, the magnitude of the resultant vector can be calculated using this theorem, leading to the equation Vᵣ² = V₁² + V₂².
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Parallel Axis Theorem
Magnitude of a Vector
The magnitude of a vector is a measure of its length or size, regardless of its direction. It is calculated using the square root of the sum of the squares of its components. Understanding the magnitude is crucial for vector addition, especially when applying the Pythagorean theorem to find the resultant vector's length when vectors are orthogonal.
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Calculating Magnitude & Components of a Vector
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