# Computing the angles of Vector to x,y,z axisses

1. Aug 28, 2012

### LVanderlinden

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

A vector is given by R = 2.00 i + 1.70 j + 2.81 k.

(a) Find the magnitudes of the x, y, and z components.
x = 2
y = 1.70
z = 2.81
(b) Find the magnitude of R.
3.85
(c) Find the angle between R and the x axis.
?
Find the angle between R and the y axis.
?
Find the angle between R and the z axis.
?

3. The attempt at a solution
I have the correct answers for part (a)& (b) but very confused on (c) what I needed to do to find angle

2. Aug 28, 2012

### E_M_C

You'll need to use the dot product. For two vectors a and b, the dot product is:

$\vec{a}\cdot\vec{b} = a_xb_x + a_yb_y + a_zb_z = |a||b|cosθ$

You want to solve this for θ. What two vectors do you need to use to find the angle between R and the x-axis?

Edit: Just to be clear, in the above equation, θ is the angle between a and b. You already know that you have to use R, but what other vector can you use that points along the x-axis? The y-axis? The z-axis?

Last edited: Aug 28, 2012
3. Aug 28, 2012

### Bhumble

You are looking for the angle the displacement vector is from each axis. So for the angle from the x-axis you need to consider the displacement from the j and k components (similar to what you did in part b) and determine the corresponding angle to the triangle formed by the j/k displacement and the given i value.