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jamesbrewer
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Homework Statement
The diagram below shows two vectors, A and B, and their angles relative to the coordinate axes as indicated.
[URL]http://loncapa.physics.mun.ca/res/mun/PHYSICS/msuphysicslib/Graphics/Gtype07/prob01a_vectors2.gif[/URL]
DATA: α=43.7°; β=53.4°; |A|=4.30 cm. The vector A−B is parallel to the −x axis. Calculate the y-component of vector B.
Homework Equations
[itex]A_x = |A| cos \theta, A_y = |A| sin \theta[/itex]
The Attempt at a Solution
I easily found that [itex]A_x = 4.30 cm cos(43.7) = 3.10 cm[/itex] and [itex]A_y = 4.30 cm sin(43.7) = 2.97 cm[/itex].
The problem I'm having is figuring out how to calculate [itex]B_x[/itex] with only the information I have. If I had [itex]|B|[/itex] then I could easily solve for [itex]B_x[/itex]. The problem states that [itex]\vec{A-B} || -x-axis[/itex], but what role does this play in solving the problem?
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