A train goes up a hill with a 15º incline. If the train has constant speed of 22 m/s, what are the vertical and horizontal components of the train's velocity? (Remember to use the law of sine and cosines for this problem)

Question

anonymous · Answer

alright so the best thing to start with is drawing it out:

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anonymous · Answer

now you know the total velocity is 22m/s, which is the hypotenuse of the triangle. You also know the angle of the incline which is 15 degrees

To find the x component, you have to use cosine, and to find the y component use sine

Remember that 
cos(theta) = adjacent/hypotenuse 
and that 
sin(theta) = opposite/hypotenuse

you know theta (its your angle)
you know the hypotenuse which is your total velocity

Now just solve for the adjacent side (which is you x component) and the opposite side (which is your y component)