How to Express a Force as a Sum of Parallel and Perpendicular Components?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on expressing a force vector, specifically $2i+j$, as a sum of its parallel and perpendicular components relative to a movement direction represented by the vector $i+j$. The method involves projecting the force vector onto the velocity vector to obtain the parallel component and onto a normal of the velocity vector for the perpendicular component. The formula used for the projection is given by $$\boldsymbol\pi_{\mathbf v}(\mathbf F) = \frac{\mathbf F \cdot \mathbf v}{{\|\mathbf v\|}^2} \mathbf v$$, which is essential for calculating these components accurately.

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Hello! (Wave)

We suppose that a force that is given by the vector $2i+j$ is applied at an object that moves at the direction $i+j$.
How can we express this force as a sum of a force that has the direction of the movement and a force that is perpendicular to the direction of the movement?
 
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evinda said:
Hello! (Wave)

We suppose that a force that is given by the vector $2i+j$ is applied at an object that moves at the direction $i+j$.
How can we express this force as a sum of a force that has the direction of the movement and a force that is perpendicular to the direction of the movement?

Hi evinda! (Smile)

We project the force vector onto the velocity vector to find the parallel component.
And onto a normal of the velocity vector to find the perpendicular component.

Such a projection is given by:
$$\boldsymbol\pi_{\mathbf v}(\mathbf F) = \frac{\mathbf F \cdot \mathbf v}{{\|\mathbf v\|}^2} \mathbf v$$
(Thinking)
 

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