Consider a particle with initial velocity v⃗ that has magnitude 12.0 m/s and is directed 60.0 degrees above the negative x axis. What is the x component v⃗ x of v⃗ ? What is the y component v⃗ y of v⃗ ?

Question

Consider a particle with initial velocity v⃗  that has magnitude 12.0 m/s and is directed 60.0 degrees above the negative x axis.  What is the x component v⃗ x of v⃗ ?  What is the y component v⃗ y of v⃗ ?

anonymous · Answer

I know I use the COS (60) to find the x value but the "negative x axis part is throwing me off...

anonymous · Answer

60 degrees above the negative x axis is equal to 120 degrees.

kmeis002 · Answer

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anonymous · Answer

With forces you have a magnitude (strength) and a direction.  So you can use the 60 degrees and add the negative sign in afterwards.

$$v_{x} = 12cos(60) [m/s] -x direction$$ or you can write as

$$v_{x} = -12cos(60) [m/s] $$

Simular for the y-direction

anonymous · Answer

The negative sign just tells you direction about the velocity