Hey quick question. How do you find the direction of a vector resultant?
For example, i know i can add them using the Pythagorean theorem. But then what is the direction of the resultant vector and how do i find how many degrees it is to the horizontal?
For example, i know i can add them using the Pythagorean theorem. But then what is the direction of the resultant vector and how do i find how many degrees it is to the horizontal?
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let's say you have a vector and you know its x component and y component
draw a triangle and see that if you use the x axis as one leg, the angle the hypotenuse (resultant) makes with the x axis can be described by
tan(theta) = y component/x component
so if your final resultant vector has an x component of 53 and a y component of 72, the angle of that vector with respect to the x axis is
tan(theta) = 72/53 = 1.36
theta = arctan(1.36) = 53.6 deg
draw a triangle and see that if you use the x axis as one leg, the angle the hypotenuse (resultant) makes with the x axis can be described by
tan(theta) = y component/x component
so if your final resultant vector has an x component of 53 and a y component of 72, the angle of that vector with respect to the x axis is
tan(theta) = 72/53 = 1.36
theta = arctan(1.36) = 53.6 deg