Experiment No.

2
VECTOR ADDITION

I. Objectives:

To determine experimentally and graphically the resultant of adding two or more vectors and to compare the
result with the resultant determined analytically.

II. Introduction:

Many physical quantities discussed in Physics can be completely specified by their magnitudes alone, i.e. by
simply stating the number and the appropriate units. Quantities such as mass, length, or speed having magnitudes
of 500 g, 2.54 cm, or 10 m/s respectively, for example, are referred to as scalar quantities.

Physical quantities like force, velocity, or acceleration can only be completely described if its direction is
specified such as 2.0 N east, 20 kph, 30 O NE, or 9.8 m/s2 respectively. Any physical quantities that have both
magnitude and direction in space are referred to as vector quantities. Graphically, vectors are represented by
arrows. The length of the arrow corresponds to the magnitude of the vector and the arrowhead corresponds to its
direction. Mathematical operations of vectors require some concepts of trigonometry. However, adding two or more
vectors to give a single vector (the resultant) may also be done graphically and/or experimentally.

In this experiment, the third force is called the equilibrant ( FE ), since it is the force which establishes
equilibrium. The equilibrant is the negative of the resultant.

Figure 2.1 The Equilibrant Balances the Resultant

The resultant is the sum of the two forces. While the equilibrant is equal in magnitude to the resultant, but it is in
the opposite direction because it balances the resultant (see Figure 2.1).

III. Materials, Set – Up and Procedure:

Mass set

pulleys

Figure 2.2 Materials

 Figure 2.3 Set – up of the activity

1. Assemble the force table as shown in the setup, use three pulleys: two for the forces that will be added
  
( FA  FB ) and one for the force that balances the sum of the two forces ( FE ) .

2. Screw the center post up so that it will hold the ring in place when the masses are suspended from the two
pulleys. Place each string over a pulley and tie a mass hanger to it. Place the ring over the post and tie one
30 cm long string to the ring for each pulley. The strings must be long enough to reach over the pulleys.

3. Using Table 2.1, find the vector forces corresponding to your Group No., hang the corresponding masses on
two of the pulleys and clamp the pulleys at the given angles. Use scale: 1N = 1 g

Table 2.1: Magnitude of Vectors per Group

Group No. Force A, 𝑭

⃑𝑨 Direction Force B, 𝑭
⃑𝑩 Direction
(N) (N)
1 100 East 150 30o W of N

CAUTION: Each weight hanger can hold a maximum mass of 200 grams only.
4. By trial and error, find the angle for the third pulley and the mass which must be suspended from it that will
balance the forces exerted on the strings by the other two masses. To determine if the system is in
equilibrium, ensure that the ring must be centered over the post.

Note: To determine initially what mass should be suspended from the third pulley, and at
what angle, calculate the magnitude and direction of the equilibrant theoretically.

Figure 2.4 Actual Activity

5. Record the mass and angle required for the third pulley to put the system into equilibrium in Table 2.2.

Equilibrant
Vector B
Vector A

Equilibrant
Vector A Vector B

100 g

Figure 2.5 Results

B. Graphical Method:

1. Using an appropriate scale, carefully plot the given two vector forces on the back page of your Data Sheet.
Use scale 10 N= 1 cm
2. Add together the two forces by drawing them to scale using a metric ruler and protractor to measure the
magnitude and direction respectively.
 
3. Using the polygon method, draw the second force ( FB ) with its tail to the head of the first vector ( F A ).
  
The resultant ( FR ) is drawn from the tail of ( F A ) to the head of ( FB ).

See Figure 2.3 for illustration. The magnitude of the resultant can be measured directly from the diagram
and converted to the proper force using the chosen scale. The direction is taken from the angle measured.
Record the results in Table 2.2.

Figure 2.6 Adding Vectors Head to Tail

C. Analytical Method (by Component):
 
1. Calculate the vector components of Force A, ( FA ) and Force B, ( FB ) and their resultant (magnitude and
direction). Record the results in Table 2.2.

Table 2.2: Results of the Three Methods of Vector Addition

Method Resultant (⃑⃑𝑭𝑹 ) % Error

Magnitude Direction (use method C as
(N) () Theoretical Value)
A. Experimental:
Equilibrant mag. = ___________
Equilibrant dir. = ___________
B. Graphical: (Using Polygon Method)
Length = __________
Angle = __________
C. Component: 𝑅𝑥 = __________
𝑅𝑦 = __________
 Date Performed:
University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines Date Received:
Department of Physics
Content (65%)
Performance (15%)
Neatness (10%)
Promptness (10%)

Score/Rating:

Name: ______________________________________________ ID No: __________________

Section Code: ________________________________ Course & Year: ___________________

Experiment No. 2
VECTOR ADDITION

I. Objectives (10 pts) (in your own words):

II. Materials (5pts):

III. Computations (5 pts):

IV. Data and Results (10 pts):

Table 2.2
Results of the Three Methods of Vector Addition

Method Resultant (𝐹𝑅 ) % Error

Magnitude Direction (use method C as
(N) (degree) Theoretical Value)
A. Experimental:
Equilibrant mag. = ___________
Equilibrant dir. = ___________
B. Graphical: (Using Polygon Method)
Length = __________
Angle = __________

C. Component: 𝑅𝑥 = __________
𝑅𝑦 = __________

Show Your Drawing for Polygon Method below (10 pts):

Scale : 10 N = 1 cm
V. Discussion of Results (10 pts):

VI. Conclusion (5 pts):

VII. Answers to Questions and Problems (10 pts):

1. How do the theoretical values for the magnitude and direction of the equilibrant compare to the actual magnitude
and direction obtained graphically and experimentally?

2. Which of the three methods gives you the most accurate result? Why?

3. Of the two methods, graphical and experimental, which gave the lesser error? Why?

4. What are the possible sources of these errors?