# Physics: Calculating the Forces Needed from an Angle and a Force

This is probably a very simple question to all of you, but I have never taken a physics class, so I am lost for what I need to do for a programming problem. I will need to specify a force by inputting the newtons x, newtons y, and newtons z.

How can I calculate these 3 forces based on the desired angle and desired force for that direction?

Thank you for your time, this project is important to me.

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@MattBell: Why don't you try physics.stackexchange.com –  anonymous Sep 30 '10 at 18:59
Thank you, I looked for a Physics stack but I guess I missed it. –  MattBell Sep 30 '10 at 19:00
How would the angle/direction for the force in three dimensions be given? –  Isaac Sep 30 '10 at 19:07
@MattBell: So you mean to say that if there are no physics forums available you will post them into math... Common! –  anonymous Sep 30 '10 at 19:07
@MattBell: You can even try physics help forums. Moreover for your problem, i think Lami's theorem may help. Look at a good book on statics. –  anonymous Sep 30 '10 at 19:08
Isaac's comment asking how the angles are given is a good one. If you specify that and the coordinate system the problem will be well posed. Guessing that it is in azimuth $(\phi )$ and elevation $(\theta )$, with $\phi =\theta =0$ along the positive x axis and positive z up, $F_x=F\cos(\theta )*\cos(\phi ), F_y=F\cos(\theta )*\sin(\phi ), F_z=F\sin(\theta )$