Vector components are added along each axis to determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant.

EO 1.3ADD vectors using the following methods: b. Component addition

An Explanation of Components

The component addition method refers to the addition of vector coordinates on a rectangular (x,y) coordinate system. Coordinates, as seen in previous examples, locate a specific point in the system. Relative to vectors, that specific point is the head of the vector. There are two ways to locate that point. The head can be located by counting the units along the x-axis and the units along the y-axis, as illustrated in Figure 21, where the point has coordinates (4,3); i.e., the x component has a magnitude of 4 and the y component has a magnitude of 3.

The head can also be found by locating a vector of the proper length on the positive side of the x-axis, with its tail at the intersection of the x and y- axes. Then the vector is rotated a given number of degrees in the counterclockwise direction. In this example, the head of the vector is located five units at 36.9. Five units is the length of the vector.

Figure 21 Vector Addition Component Method