Chapter 8.3, Problem 2CFU

To determine

To Find: The information that is required to find the components of the three dimensional vector from its given magnitude.

Answer to Problem 2CFU

Thecomponents of the vector is obtained by the magnitude and the angels that is made by the vector with the axes in the positive direction.

Explanation of Solution

Consider that a vector components is $\overrightarrow{a}$ and have the magnitude of $N$ units that makes an angle of $\alpha ,\beta ,\gamma$ with the positive of the x , y and z axis respectively.

Then, the component of the vector is written as,

  $\begin{array}{l}{a}_x=N\cos \alpha \\ a_y=N\cos \beta \\ a_z=N\cos \gamma \end{array}$

Thus, the components of the vector is obtained by the magnitude and the angels that is made by the vector with the axes in the positive direction.