Final answer:
The vector product, also known as the cross product, is used to determine the result when two vectors are perpendicular to each other. It combines the magnitudes of the vectors and the sine of the angle between them, which is 90 degrees for perpendicular vectors, with the direction given by the right-hand rule.
Step-by-step explanation:
When two vectors are perpendicular to each other, you must use the vector product or the cross product to find the answer. The magnitude of the vector product is determined by multiplying the magnitudes of the two vectors by the sine of the angle between them, which is 90 degrees for perpendicular vectors. The direction of the vector product is determined by the right-hand rule, which states that if you point the index finger of your right hand in the direction of the first vector (A) and your middle finger in the direction of the second vector (B), then your thumb points in the direction of the vector product (A x B).
To find the perpendicular components of a single vector, such as in a situation where you have vector A and you want to find Ax and Ay that are perpendicular to each other and add up to A, you would use trigonometric relationships. For instance, Ax could be found using A*cos(θ) and Ay using A* sin(θ), where θ represents the angle relative to the horizontal x-axis.