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Q.Define unit vector. Resolve a vector into its rectangular components. A displacement vector of 2 kilometres makes an angle 30 degrees with x-axis. Find the x and y components of the displacement. OR What is a projectile? Derive the expressions for maximum height, time of flight and horizontal range when a projectile is fired at an angle theta with the horizontal.

Manipur CohsemCouncil of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (Higher Secondary 1st Year) 2020Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★
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A unit vector has magnitude 1 and shows only direction; resolving the given 2 km displacement at 30° to the x-axis gives x-component ≈1.73 km and y-component = 1 km.

Unit vector: A unit vector is a vector having magnitude exactly equal to 1, used purely to indicate the direction of a given vector (it carries no information about magnitude/size). If A⃗\vec{A} is any vector with magnitude A=∣A⃗∣A = |\vec{A}|, the unit vector in its direction is

A^=A⃗A\hat{A} = \dfrac{\vec{A}}{A}

so that A⃗=AA^\vec{A} = A\hat{A}. In Cartesian coordinates, i^\hat{i}, j^\hat{j}, k^\hat{k} are the standard unit vectors along the x, y, z axes respectively.

Resolving a vector into rectangular components:

Any vector A⃗\vec{A} in the x-y plane, making angle θ with the x-axis, can be resolved into two mutually perpendicular components along the x and y axes:

Ax=Acos⁡θAy=Asin⁡θA_x = A\cos\theta \qquad A_y = A\sin\theta

so that A⃗=Axi^+Ayj^\vec{A} = A_x\hat{i} + A_y\hat{j}, and A=Ax2+Ay2A = \sqrt{A_x^2+A_y^2}.

Applying to the given displacement: …

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