1. Kinematics
The Component Method

2. Recall Vectors are quantities that have both magnitude and direction.
Graphically, their sum is calculated by adding the vectors “tip-to-tail”.
Graphical method is efficient for co-linear vectors and vectors problems with two vectors only.
What if there are more?
The component method!

3. The Component Method
Method that resolves each vector into its x- components and y-components.
The resultant is calculated through the addition of these components.

4. Example #1
Determine the resultant of the following vectors using the component method:

5. Solution a: b: Vector X-component Y-component 3.93m 3.27m 10m 250 axay
15m
300 b: bx by
3.27m
3.93m

6. Example #2
Determine the resultant of the following vectors using the component method:

7. Solution a: b: c: Vector X-component Y-component ax ay 10km 300 bx 300by
30km
450 c: cy cx

8. 1.11km
19.87 km