Resolving Vectors

Abstract

Static or dynamic state of any object is the result of various forces acting on it. To correlate the state of the object mathematically with the forces, one need to analyse opposing forces and complimentary forces by the process of ‘Vector Resolution’, meaning breaking of a vector in two components perpendicular to each other. One has to then write governing equilibrium or force balancing equations and derive the formulae for the object’s motion. Present article emphasizes the very simple fact that there are no sacred directions along which the force vectors should be resolved. The key step is to draw a rectangle with given force vector along its diagonal and orienting the rectangle in such a way that its sides should be parallel (or anti-parallel) with other force vectors acting on the object. This unified method has been illustrated by different examples in the article