Adding Vectors by Components

In order to get to our final result, we have to follow several easy steps in adding Vectors by Components:

1. Determine the positive and negative sides of the axes                  

( it will help in finding the direction of the vectors)

Ex: 

 North and East  = positive axes                                                

South and West = negative axes 

2. Break all the vectors into components: X (horizontal components) and Y(vertical components)

Refer to the diagram given for each vector to correctly use the sign, (+ or -), for each component.

3. Use trigonometry to find X and Y components

 

4. Add all the x- components , to get the total of the x components

5. Add all the y- components , to get the total of the y components

6. Use the "Head to Tail " method to combine the X and Y components.

7. Use The Pythagorean Theory to find the final Resultant