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.
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →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 is any vector with magnitude , the unit vector in its direction is
so that . In Cartesian coordinates, , , are the standard unit vectors along the x, y, z axes respectively.
Resolving a vector into rectangular components:
Any vector 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:
so that , and .
Applying to the given displacement: …
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