Question

Why do perpendicular vectors need to be resolved into components before adding?

A) To simplify vector addition.
B) To make the calculation more complex.
C) To find the vector's magnitude.
D) To change the direction of the vectors.

Answer 1

Perpendicular vectors need to be resolved into components before adding in order to simplify vector addition.

Step-by-step explanation:

Perpendicular vectors need to be resolved into components before adding because resolving them simplifies vector addition. By breaking down the vectors into their components along the x and y axes, we can add the components separately, which is easier than adding the original vectors. Once the components are added, we can determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector. For example, if we have two perpendicular vectors, A and B, we can find the x and y components of each vector, and then add the x components together and the y components together. This method allows for a simpler and more efficient way of determining the resultant vector.