AINEE JOY HINUGUIN – PHYS101L (1264)

IN A NUTSHELL 2
Let’s try this critical thinking question based on what you’ve learned in this lesson.
Question 1: Will the changing of the order of vectors affect the result of its resultant?
Discuss your answer.
When applied to vectors, the term "resultant" refers to the sum of those vectors.
It's most commonly used when the vectors indicate forces, and the resultant
vector represents the force that occurs when forces are applied in different
directions to an object. Otherwise, the word "sum" is more commonly used. On
vectors, addition is commutative. When a coordinate system exists, it can define
the vectors, and the total of the vectors is used to get the coordinate system. As a
result, changing the order in which you add vectors does not affect the sum.
Question 2: Which of the methods of adding vectors you have studied can be
considered more advantageous to use? Why?
Using the Law of Cosines to add vectors is the most efficient way for me. The
Law of Cosine may use it to calculate the resultant vectors of any triangle. It's an
enlarged form of the Pythagorean Theorem; hence it works for all triangles except
right triangles, for which the Pythagorean Theorem is best. Furthermore, knowing
how to use the Law of Cosines can help me understand specific vector addition
problems that simply include other polygons.
Question 3. Is it possible to combine a) two equal b) two unequal vectors to give zero
resultant? Prove your answer.
a.) Yes. If both vectors are in opposite directions, it is possible to combine two
equal vectors to get a zero resultant. If a car travels 5 meters east and then
returns 5 meters west, the resultant vector is zero. Another example is the
effects of forces on objects. The resultant is zero if the normal force is 10
units and the gravitational force acting on an item is 10 units.

b.) No. Despite the similarity or difference in direction, two unequal vectors
will not produce a zero resultant. For example, if a car travels east at 60
km/h and west at 70 km/h, the resultant vector will be 10 km/h west. The
resultant vector will not be zero even if the car travels from the East at 60
km/h to the North at 70 km/h.