Vector Component

​Many physical quantities, such as speed , can be completely described by a single real number called a scalar. This number indicates the magnitude or size of the quantity. A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction.

• Ex: The velocity of a football is a vector that describes both the speed and direction of the ball.

• Ex: A boat traveling at 15 mph - scalar: has magnitude but no direction

• Ex: A hiker walking 25 paces due west - vector: has magnitude & direction

• Ex: a person's weight on a bathroom scale - vector: has magnitude & directions, gravity has a downward pull.

• If a vector has its initial point at the origin, it is in standard position. The direction of a vector is the directed angle between the vector and the horizontal line that could be used to represent the x-axis.

​A & B can be represented as (x, y) points in the coordinate. We can take the values of A - (x₁, y₁) &

B - (x_2, y₂) and find the component form and magnitude of vector AB.

​FORMULA