Lab 03 - Vectors Name_ _ 09/27/202 126 Points

Go to: http://phet.colorado.edu/sims/vector-addition/vector-addition_en.html

Please read each question carefully and do as it requests.

Displacement is a vector. It has magnitude and direction. Distance is a scalar and has only
magnitude. The distance traveled is the sum of the magnitudes of the Displacements.
The magnitude of a vector is found by taking the square root of the sum of the squares of
the components of the vector. D = dx x + dy y + dz z and distance = [dx2 + dy2 + dz2]1/2

1. Click the Vector Addition link above.

2. Click Components Style 2. This will show the x and y components of
the vectors in light red.
3. Grab a Vector from the barrel and place it’s tail at the origin.
4. Grab the head of the arrow and drag it so the arrow’s head on the y axis
at any length. Record the following listed across the top:

|R| = ____20______ θ = ____90______ Rx = _____0_____ Ry = _____20_____ 8pts

5. Grab another arrow from the barrel and place the arrow’s tail at the
origin. Drag the arrow’s head and place it on the x axis at any length. Record the following:

|R| = _____20_____ θ = ____0______ Rx = _____30_____ Ry = _____0_____ 8pts

6. Grab another arrow from the barrel and place the arrow’s tail at the
origin. Drag the vector’s head into the second quadrant).

a) What are the components Rx and Ry of the vector? Rx = ___-15___ Ry = __15____ 4

pts

b) What angle does θ make?  = ___135____ 2 pts

c) Calculate |R| cos θ =____-14.99_______2 pts Is this equal to Rx? ____Yes_____ 2 pts

d) Calculate |R| sin θ =_____14.99______2 pts Is this equal to Ry? ____Yes_____ 2 pts

7. Drag the vector’s head into the third quadrant (still starting at the origin).

a) What are the components Rx and Ry of the vector? Rx = ___-15___ Ry = ___-15___ 4

pts

b) What angle does θ make?  = __-135_____ 2 pts

c) Calculate |R| cos θ =____-14.99_______2 pts Is this equal to Rx? ___Yes______ 2 pts

d) Calculate |R| sin θ =____-14.99_______2 pts Is this equal to Ry? ___Yes______ 2 pts

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8. Drag the vector’s head into the fourth quadrant (still starting at the
origin).

a) What are the components Rx and Ry of the vector? Rx = __15____ Ry = __-15____ 4

pts

b) What angle does θ make?  = ___-45____ 2 pts

c) Calculate |R| cos θ =_____14.99______2 pts Is this equal to Rx? ____Yes_____ 2 pts

d) Calculate |R| sin θ =____-14.99_______2 pts Is this equal to Ry? ___Yes______ 2 pts

9. Move your vector back to the first quadrant. Make sure it still starts at
the origin.

What are the components Rx and Ry of the vector? Rx = __15____ Ry = ___15___ 4 pts

10. Delete all vectors except the first vector of question 1.

10. Grab another vector from the barrel and place it’s tail at the head of the
first vector of questions 1. Place the head of this vector anywhere in the first quadrant.

What are the components Rx and Ry of the vector? Rx = __20____ Ry = ___-10___ 4 pts

11. Click “Show Sum”

12. Drag the green sum vector so that it’s tail starts at the origin. 4 pts

Record Rx = ___20_______ Ry = _____10_____ for the sum.

13. What is the relationship of the Rx value of the sum to the Rx values of
these two vectors?

The Rx value is the sum of the x components of both vectors a and b (0 + 20) which gives us
20. 10 pts

14. What is the relationship of the Ry value of the sum to Ry values of these
two vectors?

The Ry value is the sum of the y components of both vectors a and b (20 + -10) which gives
us 10. 10 pts

15. Clear All, then place a vector of any length along the x-axis. Place it so
it starts just slightly right of the origin of the graph. Record the following for the first vector

|R| = ____15______ θ = ____0______ Rx = ____15______ Ry = _____0_____ 4

pts

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16. Place the tail of a second vector at the tip of the first vector. Make the
second vector as close to the same length as the first vector (questions 15) but make the
angle as close to 120o as you can. Record the following for the second vector.

|R| = ___14.8_______ θ = ____118.3______ Rx = ____-7______ Ry = ___13_____ 4

pts

17. Place the tail of a third vector at the tip of the second vector. Make the
third vector approximately the same length as the first two vectors but place the tip at the
origin of the graph. Record the following for the third vector.

|R| = ___15.3_______ θ = ____-121.6______ Rx = _-8__ Ry = ___-13___ 4 pts

18. What are the components of the resultant vector for the sum of these first
three vectors:

(came out to 0 exactly so no angle)

|R| = ____0____ θ = ____N/A______ Rx = ____0_____ Ry = ____0______ 4 pts

22. If each of the vectors represented the distance traveled in a run:

a) What was the total distance traveled? ______45.1_______________m 5 pts

b) If the total distance was run in 10 s, what was the average speed? _____4.51__ m/s 5 pts

c) What was the displacement of the runner? _______0_________ m 5 pts

d) What was the average velocity of the runner? ______0__________ m/s 5 pts

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