HOLY ANGEL UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

NAME DATE PERFORMED

SUBJECT DATE SUBMITTED
SECTION INSTRUCTOR

Experiment No. 1
VECTORS

INTRODUCTION:
In this experiment, a force table will be used to show how vectors represent forces,
and practice adding vectors algebraically and graphically.
"The Force Table" is a simple tool for demonstrating Newton’s First Law and the vector
nature of forces. This tool is based on the principle of “equilibrium”. An object is said to be
in equilibrium when there is no net force acting on it. An object with no net force acting on
it has no acceleration. By using simple weights, pulleys and strings placed around a circular
table, several forces can be applied to an object located in the center of the table in such a
way that the forces exactly cancel each other, leaving the object in equilibrium. (The object
will appear to be at rest.) We will use the force table and Newton’s First Law to study the
components of the force vector.

OBJECTIVES:
1. To find the resultant vector using a vector simulator.
2. To see the relationship between the equilibrant vectors relate to the resultant
vector.
3. To develop skills with analytical addition of vectors and vector components.

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
APPARATUS:
1. Reference to https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/vector-addition/vector-
addition_en.html
DISCUSSION:
Forces are vector quantities, described by both their magnitude and direction. Masses
suspended from strings to exert force on an object – a metal ring will be used. The
resultant is a single force calculated as the vector sum of the forces exerted on the object.
We will be able to calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector on the
force table by examining the equilibrant, which is a single force that establishes equilibrium
by balancing two or more forces. So, the equilibrant (Figure1) has the same magnitude, but
opposite direction as the resultant
The physical quantities to illustrate vector addition will be forces. The apparatus to be
used called the “Force Table” and is illustrated in Figure 2. It is a large metal disk ruled in
degrees like a protractor. Three pulleys are clamped to the edge of the table; they can be
set at any angles. Different masses hang from strings passing over the pulleys. The pulleys
merely change the direction of the force exerted by the strings, from downward to
outward along the surface of the table. These strings are tied to, and pull on, a central ring
that is free to move. If the forces from the three strings balance (add vectorially to zero)
the ring will remain at rest.

Figure1. Equilibrant Figure 2. Force Table

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
PROCEDURE:
1. Open the web site https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/vector-addition/vector-
addition_en.html
This will be the view for the Vector Simulation.

2. Select one an arrow from the rectangle (blue and orange) by dragging and dropping it
as shown on the figure below. Drag the red arrow until the magnitude R1 becomes 20
units and Angle 1 becomes 0.

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

3. Drag another two arrows with the following magnitude and direction: R2 = 22.4 units,
2 = 26.6 and R3 = 16.4 units, 3 = 127.6.

4. To measure the vector, grab another arrow, placing its tail on the tail of the first vector
and its arrow head on the arrow head of the last vector, thus closing it and forming a
polygon.

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

5. Take note on the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector R as indicated on the
display of the simulator and record your answer in Table 1.1.

6. Click CLEAR ALL button and repeat steps 2 to 5 for various trials shown in Table 1.1.

A. Analytical method.
1. To calculate the resultant vector of three or more vectors, you can calculate it by
taking two vectors at a time. R1 = 20.0 units, 1 = 0 and R2 = 22.4 units, 2 = 26.6.

2. Compute for the magnitude of intermediate resultant vector R i using cosine law:
2 2 2
c =a + b −2 ab cos C

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
3. Compute for the angle using sine law:
sin A sin B
=
A B
4. Use the magnitude and direction of the intermediate vector R i to compute for the
resultant vector: Ri = (answer in step 2) units, i = (answer in step 3) and R3 = 16.4
units, 2 = 127.6.

5. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to compute for resultant vector and record your answer in Table
1.2.
6. Repeat steps 1 to 5 for different trials shown in Table 1.2 and write your answer in the
table.

B. Vector-Component Method
1. To calculate the resultant vector of three or more vectors using component method,
calculate the x and y components of each vector and record your answer in Table 1.3.
Use the following formulae:
R x =R cos θ
R y =R sinθ

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
2. Take the algebraic sum of the x and y components of the resultant vector and write
your answer in Table 1.3.
ΣR x =R1 x + R 2 x + R 3 x
ΣR y =R1 y + R2 y + R3 y
3. Compute the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector and record your answer
in Table 1.3.

√ 2
¿ R∨¿ ( ΣR x ) + ( ΣR y )
2

θ=tan
−1
| |
ΣR y
ΣR x

Note: If the direction falls on the following Quadrants, follow the formula for direction:
Quadrant ΣR x ΣR y Direction, 
Quadrant I (+) positive (+) positive 
Quadrant II (-) negative (+) positive 180 - 
Quadrant III (-) negative (-) negative 180 + 
Quadrant IV (+) positive (-) negative 360 - 

4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 for different trials shown in Table 1.3 and write your answer in the
table.

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

DATA AND RESULTS:

Table 1.1. Measured Resultant Vector
Vector Magnitude, (units) Direction, θ(°)
TRIAL 1
R1 20 0
R2 22.4 26.6
R3 16.4 127.6
R
TRIAL 2
R1 15.8 71.6
R2 20.6 -14
R3 32.2 154.2
R
TRIAL 3
R1 28.3 45
R2 18 -33.7
R3 18 -123.7
R

Table 1.2. Calculated Resultant Vector using Analytical Method

Vector Magnitude, (units) Direction, θ(°)
TRIAL 1
R1 20 0
R2 22.4 26.6
Ri
R3 16.4 127.6
R
TRIAL 2
R1 15.8 71.6
R2 20.6 -14
Ri
R3 32.2 154.2
R
TRIAL 3
R1 28.3 45
R2 18 -33.7
Ri
R3 18 -123.7
R

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

Table 1.3. Calculated Resultant Vector using Component Method

Magnitude,
Vector Direction, θ(°) Rx (units) Ry (units)
(units)
TRIAL 1
R1 20 0
R2 22.4 26.6
R3 16.4 127.6
R ΣRx = ΣRy =
TRIAL 2
R1 15.8 71.6
R2 20.6 -14
R3 32.2 154.2
R ΣRx = ΣRy =
TRIAL 3
R1 28.3 45
R2 18 -33.7
R3 18 -123.7
R ΣRx = ΣRy =

COMPUTATIONS: (Use a separate paper if needed)

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS:

1. What are the components of a vector? Define each component.
2. Do two parallel vectors need to have the same direction and magnitude? Why?
3. Are velocity and time vector quantities? Explain.
4. When will the magnitude of resultant vector be zero?
5. Diego is exploring a cave. She starts at the entrance and makes the following
straight line movements:

70 m, south
112 m, 25° north of west (155° CCW)
30 m, south
182 m, 17° south of east (343° CCW)

Determine Diego’s position relative to the entrance of the cave. That is, how far
and in what direction is Diego from the cave entrance?

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

REMARKS AND CONCLUSION:

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE
GENERAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

REFERENCE:

University of Colorado Boulder. (2020, May 20). Vector Addition.

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/vector-addition

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