11.8 CHAPTER 11. VECTORS
Any vector can be resolved into a horizontal and a vertical component. IfA� is a vector, then the
horizontal component ofA� isA�xand the vertical component isA�y.
A� A�y
A�x
Example 9: Resolving a vector intocomponents
QUESTION
A motorist undergoes adisplacement of 250 kmin a direction 30◦north of east. Resolve this
displacement into components in the directionsnorth (�xN) and east (�xE).
SOLUTION
Step 1 : Draw a rough sketch of the original vector
250 km
30 ◦
N
S
W E
Step 2 : Determine the vector component
Next we resolve the displacement into its components north and east. Since
these directions are perpendicular to one another, the components forma right-
angled triangle with theoriginal displacement asits hypotenuse.
250 km
30 ◦
�xE
�xN
N
S
W E