Page 32 - eEISBN FINALIZE

Figure 2.18: Cartesian Vector Notation

The figure above shows that the rectangular component Fx and Fy of a force F may be obtained

by multiplying respectively the unit vectors i and j by appropriate scalars.

= =

And

= +

2.5.3 SCALAR NOTATION AND CARTESIAN VECTOR NOTATION

The scalars Fx and Fy are called the scalar components of the force F while the actual component

forces Fx and Fy must be referred to as the vector components of F. however, when there is no

possibility of any confusion, the vector as well as the scalar component of F may be referred to
simply as the component F.

The scalar component Fx is positive when the vector component Fx has the same sense as the unit

vector i

Denoting by F the magnitude of the force F and by θ the angle between F and the x axis, measured

counter-clockwise from the positive x axis (refer figure), the scalar component of F can be express
as:

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