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Damon If x is east and y is north and z is up
then a vector velocity V
has three orthogonal (perpendicular) components in x , y and z
the vertical component Vz = |V| cos Phi
where Phi is the angle between V and straight up
and |V|s the speed, sqrt(Vx^2+Vy^2+Vz^2).
it is the "amount" of V that is upward.