Resolving forces

The horizontal and vertical component of a force acting at an angle

KEy question: how do you work out the horizontal and vertical components of any force?

Quick recall - Calculate the magnitude and the direction of the resultant forces for the 3 examples given on the companion sheet.

Select a scale and accurately draw the force to scale in the direction specified by the question
Sketch a box around the force arrow as shown below.
Draw the components of the force. The components are the sides of the box you just drew. Be sure to place arrowheads on these components to indicate their direction (up, down, left, right).
Meaningfully label the components of the vectors with symbols to indicate which component represents which side.
Measure the length of the sides of the box and use the scale to determine the magnitude. For example, if your scale drawing has a sclate of 1cm - 1N, then a 5cm line would represent a 5N force.
Label the magnitude on the diagram.

This is a force of 50N acting at 37 Degrees from horizontal.

This is draw to a scale ofr 1cm = 10N

The lenght of side a will be the horizontal componant

The length of side b will be the vertical component

Watch this video to help you remember how we can use a scale drawing to work out the horizontan and vertical components of any given force.

Then complete the worked example in task 2 on the companion sheet

Complete the table on the companion sheet.

Use the squared paper provided to firstly draw the force to scale and at the correct angle from the horizontal.

The use you scale drawing to work out the horizontal and vertical components.

*(Pythagoras - old habits die hard)

Complete the quiz below and add your score to the spce provided in the companion sheet

Back to Forces 1

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