Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY JPLPC-Malvar

Malvar, Batangas
Tel. Nos.: (043) 778-2170/ (043) 406-0830 loc. 106
Website Address: http://www.batstate-u.edu.ph

Laboratory Activity No. 1

VECTOR ADDITION

NAME: ATIENZA, DATE: 09/09/21 SCORE: RATING:

CHARLENE M. ______
COURSE / SECTION: BSIT- SR CODE: 20-61591 100 %
2105

OBJECTIVES:

● Differentiate scalar and vector quantities;

● Perform vector operations including finding resultant using various techniques.
● Learn how to apply the rules for vector addition both graphically and analytically.

APPARATUS:

https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/vector-addition/latest/vector-addition_en.html

SETUP:

1. Click on the link: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/vector-addition/latest/vector-

addition_en.html
2. Select the “Explore 2D” option window at the bottom of the graph.
3. From the bin at the right, you can drag out a vector arrow. If you ever want to get
rid of a vector, drag it back into the bin. If you want to start over, click the eraser
at the bottom.
4. You can adjust the direction and length of the arrow by click-dragging the arrow
head. Play with this until you are comfortable.
5. Check all the boxes at the top right except for “sum.” (these will show grid,
vector length, and angles)

PART A

1. Drag out a vector, and move it until the tail is located at the origin. Click on the
head of the vector, and drag it until it is completely horizontal, points to the right,
and has a magnitude (a⃗ ) of 20.
2. Look at the chart at the top of the page. Here is an explanation of what each
number represents:
 a. a⃗ represents the length of the arrow. This is usually called the magnitude
of the vector.
b. 𝜃represents the direction the arrow points. This is simply called the
direction of the vector. The magnitude AND direction will completely
define a vector.
c. ax is called the X-component of the vector. This is the length of the
vector in the X-direction only.
d. ay is called the Y-component of the vector. This is the length of the
vector in the Y-direction only.
3. For the first vector you dragged out, fill in the chart at right.

a⃗ 𝜃 ax ay

20.0 0.0 20.0 0.0

4. Now, drag out a second vector b⃗ and place its tail at the head of the first vector.
Adjust this second vector until it points vertically upward and has a length of 15.
Fill in the table for this vector here:

b⃗ 𝜃 bx by

15.0 90.0 0.0 15.0

5. As you saw in the previous activity, if you were to walk this path, at the end you
would be 25 units away from the origin. You can show this by clicking the button
that says Sum. A new dark blue vector should pop up. This represents the
vector sum, or resultant, of the first two arrows.
6. Drag this vector over so that the tail is at the origin, and use it to form the
hypotenuse of a right triangle. Notice that the head of this vector ends exactly
where the second vector ends. Click on the dark blue vector and fill in the chart
for this vector here:

|s| 𝜃 sx sy

25.0 36.9 20.0 15.0

7. Compare the sx and sy values to the values from questions #3 and #4. What do
you notice about these values?
 Paste your graph here.

PART B

1. Hit the Clear All button to erase the screen. Next, create a new a⃗ vector with an
a x of 20 and an a yof 15. Fill in the chart for here:

a⃗ 𝜃 ax ay

25.0 36.9 20.0 15.0

2. Compare the chart values of this vector to those of the dark blue s⃑ vector from
#7. How do these values compare?

If we look attentively, we can see that the techniques for computing

the vector sum, or outcome, are different, but the substance of the chart
numbers is the same.
 3. Next, click the button on the “Components” menu. This is a way to visualize
any vector as a sum of horizontal and vertical components.

4. Adjust this vector until it has an a x value of 15 and an a yvalue of 25 Fill in the
chart for this vector:

a⃗ 𝜃 ax ay

29.0 59.0 15.0 25.0

5. Has the magnitude of this vector changed, compared to # 4? If so, how?

Yes, since we modified the value of ax and ay and altered the vector
of the first chart using components, therefore the magnitude changed
automatically.

6. Has the direction (that is, θ) of this changed, compared to # 4? If so, how?

Yes, our direction changed dramatically as a result of vector

alteration, just as it did in magnitude.

PART C

1. Calculate the following. Show your solution.

VECTOR MAGNITUDE DIRECTION x-component y-component

A 17.1 159.4° -16.0 6.0

B 6.4 -51.3° 4.0 -5.0

C 12.0 4.8° 12.0 1.0

Resultant 2.0 90.0° 0.0 2.0

Now use the simulation to connect these vectors head to tail. Click the show sum
box and compare your answer to that given in the simulation. You should slide
the resultant vector into the space from the tail of the vector A to the head of
vector C.
 Solution:

R = √x2 + y2 tan-1 θ = y/x

R = √0.02 + 22 tan-1 θ = 2.0/0.0

R = √0 + 4 tan-1 θ = 0

R = √4 θ = 90° + 0

R=2 θ = 90°

Paste your graph here.

2. Calculate the following. Show your solution.

VECTOR MAGNITUDE DIRECTION x-component y-component

 A 9.4 32.0° 8.0 5.0

B 13.9 59.7° 7.0 12.0

C 15.0 -143.1° -12.0 -9.0

Resultant 8.5 69.4° 3.0 8.0

Now use the simulation to connect these vectors head to tail. Click the show sum
box and compare your answer to that given in the simulation. You should slide
the resultant vector into the space from the tail of the vector A to the head of
vector C.

Solution:

x = 3.0

y = 8.0

R = √x2 + y2 tan-1 θ = y/x

R = √32 + 82 tan-1 θ = 8/3

R = √9+ 64 tan-1 θ = 2.67

R = √73 tan- θ = 64.0

R = 8.54

Paste your graph here.

PART D

A. What is the difference between vector and scalar quantity?

A scalar quantity is defined as a quantity that has only magnitude but no

directions, whereas a vector quantity has both magnitude and directions.

B. Determine if the given physical quantity is a vector or a scalar. Write V for vector
and S for scalar)
1. Speed ( S )
2. Mass ( S )
3. Weight ( V )
4. Force ( V )
5. Acceleration ( V )
6. Displacement ( V )
7. Distance ( S )
8. Volume ( S )
9. Density ( S )
10. Time ( S )

EXTENSION QUESTIONS
 1. A student, following instructions on her treasure map, starts at the origin and
walks the following routes:

VECTOR MAGNITUDE DIRECTION

A 18 90°

B 5 180°

C 9 270°

A. Fill in the chart below, which represents the horizontal and vertical components
of the routes.

VECTOR vx vy

A 0 18

B -5.0 0.0

C 0.0 -9.0

B. After the student has finished walking, what is her horizontal displacement?

Ans: -5

C. What is her vertical displacement?

Ans: -9

D. Using the Pythagorean Theorem, and your answer from b and c, how far is she
from the origin? (In other words, what is her resultant |R|?) Show your solution.

Ans: r = 10.3

E. Using SOHCAHTOA, what is her direction, as measured from the origin? (In
other words, what is θ?) Show your solution.

Prepared by:
_________________________
Ms. JASMIN O. PESIGAN
Course Instructor