Consider a particle with initial velocity v that has magnitude 12.0 m/s and is directed 60.0 degrees above the negative x axis.
part a
what is the x component vx of v ?
express your answer in meters per second.
part b
what is the y component vy of v ?
express your answer in meters per second.

v_x = -6.00 m/s

v_y = 10.4 m/s

Explanation:

To calculate the velocity of the x-component we must use the cosine function:

, where ∝ is the angle 60°, and is the velocity 12.0 m/s (note: the negative sign due to the question stating it is "above the negative x-axis).

This gives us a value m/s

Similarly for the y-component, we must use the sine function:

which gives us a value ≈ 10.4 m/s (since there are 3 significant figures in the information given in the question, this is rounded to 10.4 m/s).

pythagoras' theorem

square root (-5^2+9^2)

square root (25+81)

square root (106)

angle is tan^-1(9/5)

neg x, pos y