VECTOR ADDITION

Terms Related to Vectors

 Resultant Vector / Resultant – the sum of two or more
vector quantities (R)
 Commutative Properties – the order of the adding vectors
may be changed without affecting the resultant
A+B=B+A
 Associative Properties – the grouping of the vectors to be
added may also be changed without affecting the resultant.
(A + B) + C = A + (B + C)
 Vector Representation and Direction

Represent the direction of the

following vectors in a Graph.
 A is 3 km, 500 north of east
 B is 3 km, 450 North of west
 C is 4 km, 200 South of east
 D is 3 km, South
 Methods of Vector Addition

Graphical Method
 Paralellogram method
 Polygon Method
Analytical Method
 Laws of sines and cosines
 Component Method
Parallelogram Method
 The steps in determining the resultant of two
vectors using the parallelogram method are
outline below.
 Using a suitable scale, draw the arrows
representing the vectors from a common point
(a)
 Construct a parallelogram using the two vectors
as sides. (b)
 Draw the diagonal of the parallelogram from
the common point. This represents the resultant
 Measure the length of the arrow representing
the resultant, and from the scale used,
determine its magnitude.
 Determine the direction of the resultant vector
using a protractor.
ADDITION OF VECTORS BY POLYGON METHOD
Vector Representation and Direction
(You will use a Ruler and Protractor in
representing vectors. We can use
graphing paper in answering the
proceeding problem. we will use a Grid
of 1 cm=1Unit vector/10 Unit Vector)
 Let A= 5 m South, B= 12 m East, C= 4
m 450 South West and D= 6 m West.
Find the Resultant
and the angle by using the scale of 1
grid= 1 m.