Resultant magnitude and direction
What Resultant magnitude and direction means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA.
Definitions of Resultant magnitude and direction
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Reference: AQA
A single vector with the same effect as the original vectors, stated as a magnitude with unit and a direction relative to a stated reference.
The size found using Pythagoras' theorem and the angle found using an inverse tangent.
Topics that use Resultant magnitude and direction
- Scalars and vectors (AQA A-Level)
Related terms
- Coplanar forces at a point
- Displacement
- Equilibrium
- Equilibrium conditions
- Free-body diagrams
- Measurement accuracy
- Newton's laws apply along each axis independently
- Perpendicular components
Using Resultant magnitude and direction in the exam
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