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1.2 Add and Subtract Vectors Lesson

The document discusses adding and subtracting vectors using the triangle and parallelogram methods. It defines vector addition and subtraction, and examines properties such as commutativity, associativity, and subtracting vectors by adding their opposites. Examples are provided to illustrate determining sums and differences of vectors.

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alisher.mukhitdinov04
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29 views4 pages

1.2 Add and Subtract Vectors Lesson

The document discusses adding and subtracting vectors using the triangle and parallelogram methods. It defines vector addition and subtraction, and examines properties such as commutativity, associativity, and subtracting vectors by adding their opposites. Examples are provided to illustrate determining sums and differences of vectors.

Uploaded by

alisher.mukhitdinov04
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Adding and Subtracting Vectors

Vector Addition: The Triangle Method

𝑎⃑

𝑏⃑⃑

To draw the vector 𝑎⃑ + 𝑏⃑⃑

• Translate 𝑏⃑⃑ so that its tail is at the head of 𝑎⃑


• Draw the resultant 𝑎⃑ + 𝑏⃑⃑ from the tail of 𝑎⃑ to the head of 𝑏⃑⃑

In this method, you can think of adding vectors as simply applying one vector after the
other. So, suppose that the vectors represent displacements, then the sum 𝑎⃑ + 𝑏⃑⃑
represents the individual displacements carried out in succession, first 𝑎⃑ then 𝑏⃑⃑ .

Vector Addition: The Parallelogram Method

𝑎⃑

𝑏⃑⃑

Again, we want to add the two vectors 𝑎⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑ this time by using the parallelogram
method. In this method we join the vectors tail-to-tail, not tip-to-tail. The two vectors
then span a parallelogram. A parallelogram has two diagonals. The one that points from
the common tail end to the opposite corner represents the sum of the two vectors 𝑎⃑ + 𝑏⃑⃑

In this method, you can think of the vectors 𝑎⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑ as force vectors. Then 𝑎⃑ + 𝑏⃑⃑ is a
single force that acting by itself has the same effect as the two individual forces 𝑎⃑ and
𝑏⃑⃑ acting at the same time.
Example Determine 𝒖
⃑ +𝒗
⃑ using both methods.

⃑
𝒗

⃑
𝒖

Conclusion:

Properties of Vector Addition

Example Using vectors 𝑎⃑, 𝑏⃑⃑ and 𝑐⃑ below, determine a) 𝑎⃑ + 𝑏⃑⃑ and 𝑏⃑⃑ + 𝑎⃑
b) (𝑎⃑ + 𝑏⃑⃑) + 𝑐⃑ and 𝑎⃑ + (𝑏⃑⃑ + 𝑐⃑)

𝑎⃑ 𝑏⃑⃑

𝑐⃑

Commutative Law Associative Law


Example Find 𝑎⃑ + 𝑏⃑⃑ Adding Parallel Vectors

a) Same direction
𝑎⃑ 𝑏⃑⃑

Opposite direction
b)

𝑎⃑
𝑏⃑⃑

c)
𝑏⃑⃑

𝑎⃑

The Zero Vector

d)
𝑎⃑

𝑏⃑⃑
Vector Subtraction

The relationship between addition and subtraction with vectors is similar to the
relationship between addition and subtraction of numbers (scalars). To subtract 𝑎⃑ − 𝑏⃑⃑,
add the opposite of 𝑏⃑⃑ to 𝑎⃑. In other words, 𝑎⃑ − 𝑏⃑⃑ is equivalent to 𝑎⃑ + (−𝑏⃑⃑), or 𝑎⃑
followed by −𝑏⃑⃑.

Example Determine 𝒖
⃑ -𝒗
⃑.

Method 1 - Triangle Method ( tip to tail using −𝒗


⃑ )
𝑢
⃑⃑

𝑣⃑

Method 2 - Parallelogram Method ( tail to tail using −𝒗


⃑ )

𝑢
⃑⃑

𝑣⃑

Method 3 - Parallelogram Method (tail to tail using 𝒗


⃑ )

𝑢
⃑⃑

𝑣⃑

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