General Contents
Detailed Contents
Index
Graphical Vector Addition: Example 1
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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
Let’s add these vectors graphically to get
C = A + B.
What do we do first?
We can move
B
so that
A
and
B
are in “head-to-tail” position.
Draw that on paper, and then click “Next” to check your work.
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When we move
B
like this, does the vector
B
change, or is it the same vector?
It is the same vector.
How can we be sure?
A vector has magnitude (length) and direction.
When we move the vector, do either of
these change
?
No.
What can we conclude about the vector?
Since the magnitude and direction are unchanged, the vector is unchanged.
Just the location is changed, but that is not part of the specification of a vector.
Describe the drawing of the vector sum,
C
, in terms of the tail of
A
and
the head of
B
.
The vector sum
C
is drawn from the tail of
A
to the head of
B
.
Which way will
C
point?
From the tail of
A
to the head of
B
.
Add the vector sum
C
to your paper diagram and then click “Next” to check your drawing.
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If vectors
A
and
B
have
units,
must their units be the same?
Yes
.
For
example, we might need to add two displacements measured in meters. Another situation might be to add two
velocities,
both
measured in miles per hour.
What will the units be for the vector sum of
A
and
B
?
The same as the units for the individual vectors.
For example, the addition of two displacement vectors measured in meters would result in an equivalent displacement measured
in
meters
.
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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