Could a vector ever be shorter than one of its components? Equal in length to one of its components? Explain.

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Physics

Esteban Silva

11 March, 19:07

Could a vector ever be shorter than one of its components? Equal in length to one of its components? Explain.

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Lorelai Fitzgerald · Answer 1

It can never be shorter than a component - magnitude of a vector is the square root of the sum of the components squared, and a square function never produces a negative number. However, it can be the same size as it's component, if that component is the only one.