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2.2 Graphical Method

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51 views5 pages

2.2 Graphical Method

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Tigist
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2.

2 Graphical Method of Addition of Vectors in Two Dimensions (2-D)


Vector Addition

Vector addition is the process of combining two or more vectors to find a single resultant vector that
represents the combined effect of the original vectors.

There are two primary methods for adding vectors:

1. Graphical Methods

Graphical methods are used to visualize and add vectors. The most common method is the head-to-tail
method, where the tail of the second vector is placed at the head of the first vector, and the resultant
vector is drawn from the tail of the first vector to the head of the last vector.

There are three main types of graphical vector addition:

1. Triangle method:

This method is similar to the head-to-tail method, but only two vectors are added at a time. The tail of
the second vector is placed at the head of the first vector, and the resultant vector is drawn from the
tail of the first vector to the head of the second vector. This process can be repeated for more than two
vectors.

Fig. triangle with vectors A, B, and R

In the image:

Vector A: The first vector.

Vector B: The second vector.

Vector R: The resultant vector, which is the sum of vectors A and B.

Steps to follow:

Draw Vector A: Start by drawing a line segment representing Vector A.

Draw Vector B: From the head of Vector A, draw another line segment representing Vector B.
Draw the Resultant: Connect the tail of Vector A to the head of Vector B. This line segment represents
the resultant vector, R.

2. Parallelogram method:

In this method, the two vectors are drawn to scale from a common point, and a parallelogram is formed
using the vectors as adjacent sides. The diagonal of the parallelogram starting from the common point
represents the resultant vector.

Consider the above figure,

The vector P and vector Q represents the sides, OA and OB, respectively. According to the parallelogram
law, the side OC of the parallelogram represents the resultant vector R.

3. Polygon Method

The polygon method is a graphical technique used to add multiple vectors. It's essentially an extension
of the triangle method to accommodate more than two vectors.

The polygon method states:

If a number of vectors can be represented in magnitude and direction by the sides of a polygon taken in
the same order, then their resultant is represented in magnitude and direction by the closing side of the
polygon taken in the opposite order.
2.3 Algebraic Method of addition of vectors in Two Dimensions (2-D)
2. Analytical method

The analytical method of vector addition and subtraction involves using the Pythagorean Theorem and
trigonometric identities to determine the magnitude and direction of a resultant vector.

The steps to add vectors A and B using the analytical method are as follows:

Step 1: Determine the coordinate system for the vectors. Then, determine the horizontal and vertical
components of each vector using the equations.
Properties of Vector Addition:

Commutative: A + B = B + A

Associative: (A + B) + C = A + (B + C)

Applications of Vector Addition:

Physics: Forces, velocity, acceleration

Engineering: Mechanics, electricity


Mathematics: Geometry, linear algebra

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