Right Triangles

Vectors involve the same principles as one-dimensional kinematics but there is a key difference. In one-dimensional kinematics, an object can only travel north or south. When vectors are incorporated with movement, an object's sense of direction is not limited. As a result, an object can move diagonally. To find the vector quantity of a diagonal movement, trigonometry is involved with the calculations. When I placed this ruler by this television, I formed the lines of a right triangle. The hypotenuse of the triangle is the vector. The legs are the vector's components. On a two-dimensional coordinate system, the vector would have a northwestern direction since the y-axis would be to the right of the hypotenuse. The horizontal leg would lie on the x-axis and it would have a negative value. Conversely, the vertical leg would be positive.