Week 2: LAB 1-2

Preliminary

Given the following vectors. Show work.

Q: Express A and B in unit-vector notation.

Q: Find vector C in unit-vector notation, given A+B= C

Q: Find the magnitude |C| and direction  of C with respect to the positive x axis

Vector Lab exercise – two situations

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Situation 1: Four forces act on a 10 kg object: ⃗

F 1= 150 N North, ⃗
F 2=100 N East, ⃗
F 3=190 N South and ⃗
F4
=40 N West.
N

GOAL: find net force (aka resultant) Σ F=F 1 + F2 + F 3 + F 4

Q: Sketch the four force vectors acting on the object (show relative magnitude and direction)
PART A: determine using analytical method (show work) +y
Choose +ve x axis as to the right
Choose +ve y axis as up +x
Q: Let the force vectors be F1, F2, F3 and F4 . Express each in unit-vector notation (include units)

Q: what is the net force in unit-vector notation (include units)? ie F= Fx i + Fy j

Q: Sketch the net force vector acting on the object. (indicate the components of the net force) ie. Fx and Fy

Q: Calculate the magnitude of the net force |F| acting on the object (show work)

Q: Indicate the direction of the net force with the angle  with respect to the horizontal (on the sketch above)

PART B: determine using scaled diagram and the head-to-tail method

Use scaled arrows to determine the magnitude and direction of the net force.
Add the four force vectors using the head-to-tail method. ( cut and paste scaled diagram here).

*specify suitable scale: 1cm = _________ N

* use ruler to find the magnitude of the net force vector: _________ cm or ________N
* use protractor to find angle of the net force vector with respect to the horizontal: _____________

PART C: Use the simulation to determine the net force (magnitude and direction). Use appropriate scale

*specify suitable scale: 1”unit” = _________ N

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/vector-addition CLICK , followed by

Cut and paste screenshot below.

Situation 2: Two forces act on an object: ⃗

F 1= 200g 1=20o; ⃗
F 2=150g 2=80o

Assume gram unit is a force

GOAL: find net force (aka resultant) Σ F=F 1 + F2

PART A: determine using analytical method (show work) +y

+x
Q: Express each force vector in unit-vector notation (include units)

Q: what is the net force in unit-vector notation (include units)? ie F= Fx i + Fy j

Q: Sketch the net force vector acting on the object. (indicate the components of the net force) ie. Fx and Fy

Q: Calculate the magnitude of the net force |F| acting on the object (show work)

Q: Indicate the direction of the net force with the angle  with respect to the horizontal (on the sketch above)

PART B: determine using scaled diagram and the head-to-tail method

Use scaled arrows to determine the magnitude and direction of the net force. Add the two force vectors using the head-to-
tail method. ( cut and paste scaled diagram here).

*specify suitable scale: 1cm = _________ g

* use ruler to find the magnitude of the net force vector: _________ cm or ________g
* use protractor to find angle of the net force vector with respect to the horizontal: _____________

PART C: Force Table

View video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J_wghEjZgkk

Preliminary questions:

1. What is the purpose of a force table?

2. What is the equilibrant? How is it related to the resultant (or net force) in terms of the magnitude and
direction?

"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.

TASK: Find the magnitude and direction of the net force using the experimental force table method.
ie |F| and 

Use the experimental method using the force table to determine the following:
(show vectors, resultant, and equilibrant on diagram below)
Q: What is the magnitude and direction of the equilibrant vector?

Magnitude:
Direction:

Q: What is the magnitude and direction of the net force vector?

Magnitude:
Direction:

PART E: Calculating % error of the magnitude of the net force

¿
%error = ¿ expected−measured∨ x 100 % ¿
expected
Use the result (magnitude) in Part A as the expected result. Explain why?

Calculate % error in the magnitude as determined from the head-to- tail method:
Calculate % error in the magnitude as determined from the force-table method: