General Contents
Detailed Contents
Index
Graphical Vector Subtraction: 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
Can these vectors be subtracted?
Yes, as long as they have the same units.
How?
Consider
D = A – B.
We can rewrite this as a vector sum involving
–B
.
Do that.
We get
D = A + (–B)
, or
D
requires vector addition of the negative of
B
.
How is the magnitude of
(-B)
, related to the magnitude of
B
?
They are the same.
How is the direction of
(-B)
, related to the direction of
B
?
They are in opposite directions.
How are the units of
(-B)
related to the units of
B
?
They are the same.
Draw vectors
A
and
(-B)
on paper.
Then click “Next” to check your diagram.
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What do we do next to add
A
and
(-B)
?
We move
(-B)
into head-to-tail position with
A
.
Draw
A
and
(-B)
in “head-to-tail” position on paper, and then click “Next” to check your work.
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Describe the drawing of the vector sum
D = A
+ (-B)
in terms of the tail of
A
and
the head of
(-B)
.
The vector sum
A
+ (-B)
is drawn from the tail of
A
to the head of
(-B)
Show
D = A
+ (-B)
in a paper diagram, and then click “Next” to check your diagram.
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Describe how the units of
A
,
(-B)
, and
D
are related.
A
and
(-B)
had to have the same units in order for us to be able to add them.
D
has the same units as
A
and
(-B)
.
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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