a. Can a vector have nonzero magnitude if a component is zero? If no, why not? If yes, give an example. b. Can a vector have zero magnitude and a nonzero component? If no, why not? If yes, give an example.
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Textbook Solutions for College Physics: A Strategic Approach
Question
A ball is fired from a cannon at point I and follows the trajectoryshown in Figure Q3.22. Air resistance may be neglected.Five possible vectors are also shown in the figure; the letter Erepresents the zero vector. Which vector best representsa. The ball's velocity at position 2?b. The ball's acceleration at position 2?c. The ball's velocity at position 3?d. The ball's acceleration at position 3?
Solution
Step 1 of 2
a) The velocity of a body in a curved motion, at any given instant, is given by the tangent to the path traversed by the body at that instant.
Thus the velocity of the projectile at point 2 is represented by vector D.
c) The vertical component of the velocity of a projectile at the maximum height is zero. When a projectile is at the maximum height, only the horizontal component of the velocity exists. Thus the velocity of the projectile at point 3 is represented by vector C.
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