Scribd
Upload
48 views

Vector Addition Graphical Method

This is one of the major topics of General Physics I... Goodluck

Uploaded by

Vinz Naph Soriano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
48 views

Vector Addition Graphical Method

This is one of the major topics of General Physics I... Goodluck

Uploaded by

Vinz Naph Soriano
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 20

Physics:

Vector & Scalar Quantities


Characteristics of a Scalar Quantity
o Only has magnitude
o Requires 2 things:
1. A value
2. Appropriate units
Ex. Mass: 5kg
Temp: 21° C
Speed: 65 mph
Characteristics of a Vector Quantity
o Has magnitude & direction
o Requires 3 things:
1. A value
2. Appropriate units
3. A direction!
Ex. Acceleration: 9.8 m/s2 down
Velocity: 25 mph West
Representing vectors
A vector can be represented using a line segment with an
arrow on it.
For example,

The magnitude of the vector is given by the length of the line.


The direction of the vector is given by the arrow on the line.
Representing vectors
B
a

This vector goes from the point A to the point B.


We can write this vector as AB.

Vectors can also be written using single letters in bold type.


For example, we can call this vector a.

When this is hand-written, the a is written as a


Understanding Vector Directions

N
30° N of E

W E

Start on the East


origin and turn 30° to
the North
S
Methods of Vector Addition
1. Graphical method
a. Parallelogram method
b. Polygon method

2. Analytical method
a. Pythagorean theorem
b. Component method
Graphical method
a. Parallelogram method
b. Polygon method
Parallelogram Method
The steps in determining the resultant of two vectors using
the parallelogram method are outlined below and are
shown in figure 2-3. Two vectors, A and B, are used
for these analyses.

1. Using a suitable scale, draw the arrows representing the


vectors from a common point (a).
2.Construct a parallelogram using the two vectors as sides
(b).
3. Draw the diagonal of the parallelogram from the common
point.
This represents the resultant R (c).
4. Measure the length of the arrow representing the resultant,
and from the scale used, determine its magnitude.
5. Determine the direction of the resultant vector using a
protractor
Parallelogram Method
EXAMPLE:
Two forces A and B are acting on an object.
A is 3.0 N directed north and B is 4.0
N, 30° north of east. Find the resultant
force acting on the object using the
parallelogram method.

Solution:
Using the scale of 0.5 cm: 1 N, the parallelogram using forces
A and B as sides is drawn as shown in the figure. Using a
ruler, the length of the arrow representing the magnitude
of the resultant R is found to be 6 cm. Using a protractor,
the angle 0 that R makes with the horizontal is
approximately 55°. Therefore, R is 6 N, 55° north of east.
Parallelogram Method
Example:

Two forces of 3 N and 4 N are acting at a point


such that the angle between them is 60 degrees.
Find the resultant force.
Parallelogram Method
Example:

Two forces of 3 N NORTH OF EASTand 4 N


EASTare acting at a point such that the angle
between them is 60 degrees. Find the resultant
force.
Polygon Method
The polygon method is otherwise known as the tip-to-tail method.
This method is more convenient than the parallelogram
method when more than two vectors are to be added
graphically. The following are the steps to be followed using
the polygon method.

1. Represent each vector quantity by an arrow drawn to scale.


2. Starting from the origin, draw the first vector on the rectangular
coordinate system, accounting properly its direction.
3 Connect the tail of the second vector to the head of the first
vector. Then, connect the tail of thethird vector to the head of
the second vector. You may continue drawing the vectors
head to tail until you draw the last vector to be added.
Polygon Method
4. The resultant will close the figure formed by connecting the
vectors. This resultant is drawn from the tail of the first
vector to the head of the last vector.
5. Measure the length of the arrow representing the resultant.
Determine the magnitude of the resultant from the scale
used.
6. Use a protractor to determine the direction of the resultant.

If there are only two vectors to be added, the polygon that will
be formed is a triangle. In this case. the polygon method
is otherwise known as the triangle method.
Polygon Method
EXAMPLE:
You are out for an early morning walk. You walk 5.0 m,
south and 12.0 m, east. Then, you decided to walk
farther and go 4.0 m, southwest and 6.0 m, west. (a)
How far are you now from your starting point and in
what direction? (b) Would you have arrived at the
same spot had you taken the steps in this order. 12.0
m, cast: 4.0 m, southwest; 5.0 m, south; and 6.0 m,
west? Use the polygon method to determine your
answer.
Polygon Method

Let A-5.0 m, south; B = 12.0 m, east; C = 4.0 m, southwest;


and D = 6.0 m, west. (a) shows the polygon formed by
adding the displacements in the order of A+B+C+D. In
(b), the displacements are added in the order of
B+C+A+D. Changing the order of adding
displacements does not affect the resultant. This is a
consequence of commutativity of sectors when added
together. From the scale used (width of 1 square in a
graphing paper = 1 m), the resultant is approximately
8.0 m and its direction is approximately 68° south of
east.
Polygon Method
Polygon Method
Example:

Use the graphical technique for adding vectors to


find the total displacement of a person who
walks the following three paths (displacements)
on a flat field. First, she walks 25.0 m in a
direction 49.0o north of east. Then, she walks
23.0 m heading 15.0o north of east. Finally, she
turns and walks 32.0 m in a direction 68.0°
south of east.
Example #2
Use a graphical representation to solve the
following: Another hiker walks 2 km south and 4
km west. What is the sum of her distance
(resultant vector) traveled using a graphical
representation?
Example #3
Use a graphical representation to solve the
following: A hiker walks 1 km west, then 2 km
south. What is the sum(resultant vector) of his
distance traveled using a graphical representation?

You might also like