Laboratory Exercise 4: Vectors Answer Sheet

Name: ________________________ Name: ________________________

Name: ________________________ Name: ________________________

This is the form that you must turn in to get credit for the lab. Please answer the questions fully
as some questions ask you to write an explanation instead of a number or multiple choice
answer. If the lab asks you to make graphs, do so in Excel copy them into this sheet in the
appropriate place.

When you are ready to turn the lab in, convert the file to .pdf and submit it via the Assignments
tool on D2L. Labs submitted in other formats will not be considered. A group of up to 4
members may submit one lab report. It is not necessary for each member to submit a separate
report as long as each member’s name in included at the top of this sheet.

Part A:
Exercise 4-1

1. Can the magnitude of a vector be negative? Briefly explain your reasoning and what it
means if the answer was yes.

2. Can the x-component of a vector be negative? Briefly explain your reasoning and what
it means if the answer was yes.

3. Can the y-component of a vector be negative? Briefly explain your reasoning and what
it means if the answer was yes.

4. Can there be a z-component of a vector? Briefly explain your reasoning and what it
means if the answer was yes.

5. Can the component of a vector ever be larger than the vector itself? In other words, can
a x be greater than a? Briefly explain your reasoning and what it means if the answer
was yes.
 Data Table 4-1
a⃗ =11.2 at 26.6°
⃗
b=7.1 at 135 °
c⃗ =11.2@−153.4 °

Note that vector c⃗ has a negative angle. This is the same angle as 360 °−153.4 °=206.6 °.
Writing it either way is correct.

Vector Magnitude Angle X - Component Y - Component

a⃗
b⃗
c⃗

Exercise 4-2.

Let’s revisit the answers to some of the questions in Exercise 4-1.

1. Can the magnitude of a vector be negative? Think of magnitude as how large something
is. Yes or No. Highlight or bold your answer.

2. In Data Table 4-1 we see that some X - Components and Y – Components are positive
and some are negative. What do positive X - and Y components mean?

3. What do negative X - and Y components mean?

4. What do you notice about vectors a⃗ and c⃗ ? What can you say about their X - and Y -
components and the angle between a⃗ and c⃗ ?

Part B:
Exercise 4-3

1. Will multiplying a vector by a positive constant change the magnitude of the vector?
Yes or No. Highlight or bold your answer.

2. Will multiplying a vector by a positive constant change the direction that the vector
points? Yes or No. Highlight or bold your answer.
 3. Will multiplying a vector by a positive constant change the X – and Y- Components of the
vector? Yes or No. Highlight or bold your answer.

4. What will happen if we multiply a vector by a negative constant? Briefly explain your
reasoning.

Data Table 4-2

Vector Magnitude Angle X - Component Y - Component

a⃗
3 ⃗a
.5 ⃗a
−2 ⃗a

Exercise 4-4.
Let’s revisit the answers to some of the questions in Exercise 4-3.

1. What happens to a vector when you multiply it by a positive number greater than 1?

2. What happens to a vector when you multiply it by a positive number less than 1?

3. What happens to a vector when you multiply it by a negative number?

4. Are the components of a vector affected when it is multiplied by a constant? Yes or No.
Highlight or bold your answer.

5. Is the angle changed when the vector is multiplied by a positive number? Yes or No.
Highlight or bold your answer.

6. What about a negative number? Yes or No. Highlight or bold your answer.

Part C:
Exercise 4-5

Use the following vectors when answering the questions below:

a⃗ =10 @53.1 °
⃗
b=10 @5.7 °
 1. If we add a⃗ and b⃗ in an equation like a⃗ + ⃗b=⃗c , what direction will vector c⃗ point? You
only need to specify the quadrant. This means that if it points up and right then the
answer is the first quadrant, if it points up and left, then second quadrant, etc.

2. If we subtract a⃗ and b⃗ in an equation like a⃗ −⃗b=⃗c , what direction will vector c⃗ point?
You only need to specify the quadrant. Thinking about your answers in Part B and what
happened when a vector was multiplied by a negative number may help.

3. If we add a⃗ and b⃗ in an equation like a⃗ + 3 ⃗b=⃗c, what direction will vector c⃗ point? You
only need to specify the quadrant.

4. If we subtract a⃗ and b⃗ in an equation like a⃗ −3 ⃗b=⃗c , what direction will vector c⃗ point?
You only need to specify the quadrant.

5. Imagine a⃗ and b⃗ can be any vectors. Will adding them together always produce a
resultant that has a larger magnitude than a⃗ or b⃗ ? Briefly explain your reasoning.

6. Imagine a⃗ and b⃗ can be any vectors. Will subtracting b⃗ from a⃗ always produce a
resultant that has a smaller magnitude than a⃗ or b⃗ ? Briefly explain your reasoning.

Exercise 4-6.
We can now check our predictions from Exercise 4-5.
Recall that the 2 vectors that we are using are:

a⃗ =10 @53.1 °
⃗
b=10 @5.7 °

Calculate the components of a⃗ and b⃗ :

a x = ______________________
a y = ______________________
b x = ______________________
b x = ______________________

1. a⃗ + ⃗b=⃗c

c⃗ =¿____ @ ____

2. a⃗ −⃗b=⃗c

c⃗ =¿____ @ ____
3. a⃗ + 3 ⃗b=⃗c

c⃗ =¿____ @ ____

4. a⃗ −3 ⃗b=⃗c

c⃗ =¿____ @ ____