A component is the effective value of a

vector in a particular given direction.

Any single vector may be broken up into
components in any particular direction.
Every vector has a particular component in a
certain direction with another component at
a specific angle to the first component.
N.B. Components are often at right angles
to each other.
Components
0
Horizontal component
Vertical component
v
1
V.C.
H.C.
The V.C. & H.C. are the effective values of the vector v
1
in these
particular directions.
Components
1
A
2
1
Vector A can have pairs of components in any
directions as indicated by pair 1 & pair 2.
However, it is usually the horizontal and
vertical components of a vector that are
most often required and used.
2

A
A sin
A cos
Components of a vector
3
R
V
1
R
Y
V
2
R
X
V
2X
V
2Y
V
1X
V
1Y
The resultant of two vectors can be found by
adding the components of the respective vectors.
R
x
= V
1X
+V
2X
and R
y
= V
1y
+ V
2y
Thus R = R
x
+ R
y
Adding components to
find a resultant
4
weight
Perpendicular to plane
Parallel to plane
5


F
g

F
g
cos
F
g
sin
F
g
= weight of object
Components
on slopes
6