Resolve

How it is used

Typical phrases: resolve a force into components, resolve horizontally, resolve vertically, resolve parallel to the slope. A force F at an angle θ to the horizontal has components F cos θ (horizontal) and F sin θ (vertical).

Example sentences

1. Resolve the weight into components parallel and perpendicular to the slope.

2. Resolving vertically, the vertical components of the two tensions must add up to the weight of the lamp.

Common collocations

• resolve into components
• resolve horizontally
• resolve vertically
• resolved component

Related terms

• vectorA quantity that has both a size (magnitude) and a direction, such as displacement, velocity, force or acceleration. It is often drawn as an arrow.
• forceA push or a pull that can change how an object moves or change its shape. It has both size and direction and is measured in newtons (N).
• free-body diagramA simple sketch of one object with labelled arrows for all the forces acting on it, each drawn in its own direction. It is the usual first step in solving a forces problem.
• projectile motionThe motion of an object that is thrown or launched and then moves only under gravity, following a curved path. Its horizontal and vertical motions are treated separately.
• equilibriumA state in which all the forces and turning effects on an object balance, so its motion does not change. An object in equilibrium is at rest or moving at a constant velocity.

This word in other fields

The same English word can have a different meaning in another field:

• resolve · Customer Service

More terms: Experiments and Problem Solving

• uncertainty
• directly proportional
• inversely proportional
• derive
• systematic error
• line of best fit
• neglect