• Vector Addition

Pre-requisite skills:  Basic geometry and trigonometry.

Approximate completion time:  15 minutes.

Provide sufficient detail to verify that the assignment was completed in a meaningful manner.

Applet by B. Surendranath Reddy

1.   Using the mouse, carefully draw two vectors that point in the same direction.   Now add them by joining them head-to-tail.

(a) In relation to the other two vectors, which direction does the resultant vector point?

(b) In relation to the other two vectors, what is the length of the resultant vector

2. Using the mouse, carefully draw two vectors that point in the opposite direction.   (Make sure that one vector is significantly longer than the other.)   Now add them by joining them head-to-tail.

(a) In relation to the other two vectors, which direction does the resultant vector point?

(b) In relation to the other two vectors, what is the length of the resultant vector

(c) If both vectors had the same length, what would be the length of the resultant vector?

3. Using the mouse, carefully draw two vectors that are perpendicular to each other.   Now add them by joining them head-to-tail.

(a) The three vectors (including the resultant vector), form a triangle.  What special type of triangle is this?

(b) Which vector forms the hypotenuse of this triangle?

(c) Given your answer to Questions 3(a) and 3(b), what is the relationship between the lengths of the two vectors and the resultant vector?

(d) How would you go about finding the angle between the resultant vector and one of the other vectors?

Helpful Resources

1. Vector Addition and Subtraction by Wesley Dean.
2. Vectors and Motion in Two Dimensions by Tom Henderson.
3. Vector Illuminations by Ron Greene.
4. Sum of Vectors by Phillip Dukes. (Assignment)
5. Vector Math Worksheet by Gary Richert (Assignment)
6. Vectors by Angel Franco Garcia. (in Spanish)
7. Zona Land's Vectors by Ed Zobel.

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