Question

What is the minimum number of angles required to determine the Cartesian components of a 3D vector and why?

Answer 1

Answer: 3

Step-by-step explanation:

The 3D vector consists of 3 axes, let's say x, y and z.

Now, a vector P lies in all of them.

So, the angle it makes with x axis is α

The angle it makes with y axis is β

The angle it makes with z axis is γ

So, to determine the Cartesian components or to resolve the vector into it's Cartesian components we need 3 angles with each axis.