General Contents
Detailed Contents
Index
Programmed tutorial: Graphical Vector Addition: Example 3: 3 Vectors Adding to 0
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If you want to see all of the following steps at once, click the "All Steps" button. Otherwise, use the "Next" button.
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General Contents
Detailed Contents
Index
Can these three vectors be added?
Yes.
How do we write the sum in symbols?
D
=
A + B + C
We know how to add
A
and
B
to get an equivalent vector.
Could we do that here?
Yes.
Do we need to add these vectors two-at-a-time?
No.
How do we
proceed
?
We move some of the vectors so that they are in a head-to-tail pattern.
Does the order of the vectors matter?
No.
Draw the vectors this way on paper, and then click “Next” to check your drawing.
Here are two ways to draw the vectors:
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There is a total of 6 ways to do this.
How do we find the vector sum,
D
=
A + B + C
, graphically in the drawing?
D
is drawn from the tail of the first vector to the head of the last vector.
Why?
The vector sum is the single vector which has the same effect as the vectors being added.
What is different about this diagram?
The tail of the first vector and the head of the second are at the same location!
What is the magnitude of the vector sum in this case?
Zero.
Is the sum,
D
, still a vector?
Yes, since it is the result of combining two vectors.
What special name do we give to a vector like
D
in this case?
We call it the zero vector.
The end. If you found this helpful and would recommend that I create more pages like this one, please let me know:
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