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No. The "resultant vector" will be in rectangular coordinates (x and y coordinates). You indeed use the Pythagorean theorem to calculate its magnitude. For the direction, however, you use the arc-tangent of (y / x). Since different angles have the same tangent, you also have to take into account the quadrant of the angle. For example, if both x and y are negative, then you have to add 180 degrees (or pi radians) to the angle which your calculator gives you.

You can save yourself all this trouble by using the rectangular-to-polar conversion, available on most scientific calculators. Check your calculator's manual for details.

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How do you calculate a vector sum?

To calculate a vector sum, add the corresponding components of the vectors together. This means adding the x-components to get the resultant x-component, and adding the y-components to get the resultant y-component. The magnitude of the resultant vector can be found using the Pythagorean theorem, and the direction can be determined using trigonometry.


If vx 3 meterssecond and vy 4 meterssecond what is the magnitude of the resultant velocity?

You can calculate that with the Pythagorean theorem.


How can you Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant force of an object which is acted on by a force of 4.0N and a force of 10N that are in the same direction?

Add the resultant vectors 4 + 10 (and as they are in the same direction there will be no sine or cosine factors to worry about).Answer: 14N in the direction of the forces


How do you calculate the size of the resultant force in physics?

To calculate the size of the resultant force in physics, you can use vector addition. This involves determining the sum of the individual forces acting on an object, taking into account their magnitude and direction. The magnitude of the resultant force can be calculated using the Pythagorean theorem for forces acting at right angles, or vector addition for forces acting at angles other than 90 degrees.


How do you find the magnitude of the resultant vector?

To find the magnitude of the resultant vector, you can use the Pythagorean theorem. Simply square the x-component, square the y-component, add them together, and then take the square root of the sum. This will give you the magnitude of the resultant vector.

Related Questions

How do you calculate a vector sum?

To calculate a vector sum, add the corresponding components of the vectors together. This means adding the x-components to get the resultant x-component, and adding the y-components to get the resultant y-component. The magnitude of the resultant vector can be found using the Pythagorean theorem, and the direction can be determined using trigonometry.


If vx 3 meterssecond and vy 4 meterssecond what is the magnitude of the resultant velocity?

You can calculate that with the Pythagorean theorem.


How can you Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant force of an object which is acted on by a force of 4.0N and a force of 10N that are in the same direction?

Add the resultant vectors 4 + 10 (and as they are in the same direction there will be no sine or cosine factors to worry about).Answer: 14N in the direction of the forces


How do you calculate the size of the resultant force in physics?

To calculate the size of the resultant force in physics, you can use vector addition. This involves determining the sum of the individual forces acting on an object, taking into account their magnitude and direction. The magnitude of the resultant force can be calculated using the Pythagorean theorem for forces acting at right angles, or vector addition for forces acting at angles other than 90 degrees.


How do you find the magnitude of the resultant vector?

To find the magnitude of the resultant vector, you can use the Pythagorean theorem. Simply square the x-component, square the y-component, add them together, and then take the square root of the sum. This will give you the magnitude of the resultant vector.


How do we calculate resultant forces?

To calculate the resultant force, you need to add up all the individual forces acting on an object. If the forces are acting in the same direction, you simply add them up. If the forces are acting in different directions, you need to consider both the magnitude and direction of each force to determine the resultant force.


Calculate resultant velocity?

First you have to resolve all forces into vertical and horizontal. If it on a slope take the reaction force as vertical and the slope as horizontal. Then equate the opposite forces, for example the friction and the driving force, and use maths to figure out the resultant.


How do you solve for Equilibrant force?

To solve for the equilibrant force in a system of forces, you must first determine the resultant force by adding all the individual forces acting on an object using vector addition. The equilibrant force is equal in magnitude but opposite in direction to the resultant force. Mathematically, you can find the equilibrant force by multiplying the magnitude of the resultant force by -1 and finding the vector in the opposite direction.


When a rectangle is constructed in order to add velocities what represents the resultant of the velocities?

The diagonal of the rectangle represents the resultant of the velocities when added using vector addition. The magnitude and direction of this diagonal give the magnitude and direction of the resultant velocity vector.


What is the resultant magnitude resultants magnitude and direction if five forces that is 20 kilonewton 15 kilonewton 25 Kille Newton's 30 kilonewton and 10 kilo Newton act from one of the angle point?

To find the resultant magnitude and direction of the five forces acting at an angle, you can resolve each force into its horizontal and vertical components using trigonometry. Then, sum up all the horizontal components and vertical components separately to find the resultant horizontal and vertical components. Finally, use these components to calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant force using trigonometry.


When two equal and opposite vectors are added their resultant vector has zero magnitude what is the direction of this resultant?

The direction of the resultant vector with zero magnitude is indeterminate or undefined because the two equal and opposite vectors cancel each other out completely.


How would you calculate the result velocity of two velocities in the same direction?

If they're exactly in the same direction, then the resultant is also in the same direction, and its magnitude is equal to the sum of the two individual magnitudes.