Physics 1 – College Physics

Name: Score:
Course Code/Section: Date:

Activity No.: 2

VECTORS
Objectives
• To determine the resultant of two or more vectors using graphical and analytical methods
• To compare the methods in solving for the resultant of two or more vectors
• To explain the relationship between the resultant of several vectors and their equilibrant

List of Materials/Equipment

Part 1
▪ Paper ▪ Ruler
▪ Pen ▪ Protractor

*Alternatively, you can use the MS PowerPoint.

Part 2
▪ Force Vector Simulation

Theory
A physical quantity can either be a scalar or a vector quantity. A scalar quantity, or simply scalar
is a physical quantity that can be specified by its magnitude only. Examples of which are distance, mass,
time, area, and temperature. A vector quantity, on the other hand, has both magnitude and direction.
Examples of vectors are displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force.
Calculations with scalar quantities use operations of ordinary arithmetic while the addition and
subtraction of vectors follow vector algebra rules different from those of ordinary algebra. Combining two
or more vectors is tantamount to adding them and looking for the vector sum called the resultant. For
example, when several forces act at the same point, there exists a single force that is equivalent to the effect
created by those applied forces. This single force is called the resultant force that can be obtained using
vector addition.
Vector addition can be performed graphically or analytically. Two techniques can be employed in
solving the resultant graphically – the parallelogram method and the polygon method. In the former,
the two vectors to be added are drawn in one plane with a common origin. A parallelogram is constructed
using these two vectors as two of its sides. The other two sides are drawn by constructing two lines, each
one parallel and of equal length to one of the two vectors. The diagonal of the parallelogram formed, as
drawn from the origin (where the tails of the two vectors meet), corresponds to the resultant of the two
given vectors. See Figure 1 for the illustration.
The second graphical technique, the polygon method, is also known as the “head-to-tail” method.
As its name suggests, after drawing the first vector each successive vector is drawn with its tail beginning
at the head of the previous vector. The vector drawn from the tail of the first vector to the head of the last
vector is the resultant vector.

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Physics 1 – College Physics

𝐴Ԧ 𝐴Ԧ 𝐴Ԧ

𝜃 𝜃 𝜃
ሬԦ
𝐵 ሬԦ
𝐵 ሬԦ
𝐵
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3
Figure 1: Vector addition using the parallelogram method

In both graphical techniques, the magnitude and direction of the resultant are determined using a
ruler and a protractor. Thus, the accuracy of the result relies on how the vectors are drawn and how the
measurement is conducted. To avoid the errors caused by measurement, the analytical method is also used.
This method involves the use of trigonometry. When combining only two vectors, the resultant becomes
the third side of a triangle. Depending on the triangle formed, it can be solved by using one’s knowledge
on right triangles and trigonometric functions or sine and cosine laws.
In most cases where more than two vectors are added, the component method is preferred. In a
two-dimensional system, this is done by decomposing the vectors into their 𝑥- and 𝑦- components. The
components along each axis are then added algebraically to produce the net components of the resultant
along the 𝑥- and 𝑦- axis, respectively. Using the Pythagorean theorem with these components being
perpendicular to each other, the magnitude of the resultant can be obtained. See Figure 2

Figure 2: Vector addition using the component method

Experimental Procedure

Part 1
1. Using your pen and paper (or MS PowerPoint), make a top view sketch of your most favorite room in
your house. (See Figure 3)
2. Mark five (5) points in this room where you usually go in chronological order. (Figure 3)
Example:
I usually begin my day at 8 AM by fixing my BED (point A). Then I go to my CLOSET
(point B) to get some clothes and take a bath. Since the bathroom is downstairs, I go to my DOOR
(point C), open it, and walk down the stairs. Minutes after, I go back to my room with my breakfast.

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I often eat at my COFFEE TABLE (point D) beside the window. At 10 AM, I go to my

WORKING TABLE (point E) to attend to my virtual class.
3. Draw arrows to connect these points, i.e.
ሬሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐴𝐵 – from point A to point B

Figure 3: Sample of a bedroom top view

ሬሬሬሬሬԦ – from point B to point C

𝐵𝐶
ሬሬሬሬሬԦ – from point C to point D
𝐶𝐷
ሬሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐷𝐸 – from point D to point E
4. Draw a cartesian plane on your sketch with point A as your origin.
5. Measure the lengths of each arrow and the directions they are pointing to using your ruler and
protractor. These arrows then correspond to your displacement vectors inside your room.
6. Tabulate your data. (Table 1)

Part 2
A.
1. Go to Desmos Force Vector Simulation - https://www.desmos.com/calculator/bpg9oesd2m.
2. In the simulation (Figure 4), the red, green, and blue dots are variable force vectors - ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝑅 , ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝐺 , and ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝐵 ,
respectively.
3. Click on each dot to display their coordinates. Assume that each unit is in newtons.
4. Drag the red dot to the position (-5, 4). These coordinates correspond to the x- and y- components of
ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝑅 .
5. Drag the green dot to the position (8, 2). These coordinates correspond to the x- and y- components
of ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝐺 .
6. Your goal is to place the purple dot at the center of the circle in the origin. You can do so by dragging
the blue dot. Record the x- and y-components of ሬሬሬሬԦ 𝐹𝐵 by clicking on the blue dot to display its
coordinates.

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Physics 1 – College Physics

7. Record all your data in Table 2A.

Figure 4: Desmos Force Vector Simulation

B.
1. Without changing the location of the blue dot, look for the other possible coordinates of the red and
green dots that will keep the purple dot at the center of the circle in the origin.
2. Record your data in Table 2B.

Illustrations
A. Top view sketch of your favorite room in your house.

B. Screenshot of the Desmos Force Vector Simulation (Part 2A)

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C. Screenshot of the Desmos Force Vector Simulation (Part 2B)

DATA

Table 1
Displacement Vector Magnitude Direction, 𝜽

ሬሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐴𝐵

ሬሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐵𝐶

ሬሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐶𝐷

ሬሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐷𝐸

Table 2A
Force Vector x - component y - component Magnitude (N) Direction, 𝜽 (°)

ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝑅

ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝐺

ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝐵

Table 2B

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Physics 1 – College Physics

Force Vector x - component y - component Magnitude (N) Direction, 𝜽 (°)

ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝑅

ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝐺

ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝐵

Analysis

Part 1
1. Solve for your resulting displacement graphically and analytically (i.e. by using ‘head-to-tail’ method
and the component method). Summarize your results by completing the table below.

Displacement Vector Magnitude Direction, 𝜽

ሬሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐴𝐵

ሬሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐵𝐶

ሬሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐶𝐷

ሬሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐷𝐸
Head-to-Tail Method
Resultant, 𝑅ሬԦ𝐺
Component Method
Resultant, 𝑅ሬԦ𝐶

Solution:

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Physics 1 – College Physics

2. Compute for the percentage difference in the magnitudes of 𝑅ሬԦ𝐺 and 𝑅ሬԦ𝐶 .

3. Compute for the percentage difference in the directions of 𝑅ሬԦ𝐺 and 𝑅ሬԦ𝐶 .

4. Compare the results you obtained from the two methods in solving the resultant of displacement
vectors.

5. Enumerate the sources of errors.

Part 2
1. Find the resultant of ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝑅 and ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝐺 (from Part 2A) using (a) the graphical method (polygon or parallelogram
method) and (b) the analytical method (component method). Summarize your results by completing
the table below.

Force Magnitude (N) Direction, 𝜽 (°)

ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝑅

ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝐺
Parallelogram Method
Resultant, 𝑅ሬԦ𝐺
Component Method
Resultant, 𝑅ሬԦ𝐶

Solution:

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Physics 1 – College Physics

2. Compare the resultant of forces ሬሬሬሬԦ

𝐹𝑅 and ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝐺 obtained from the two methods with ሬሬሬሬԦ
𝐹𝐵 .

3. Differentiate resultant from equilibrant. In parts 2A and 2B, identify which vector is the equilibrant?

Conclusion

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