Objective

To demonstrate the
concept of vector quantity and observe how
magnitude and direction of the
vectors affect the resultant vector

Introdu
ction

Vector is a quantity that has both

magnitude and direction. The example of vector quantity is a
displacement, velocity, acceleration, forces, etc. The vector quantities
usually represent in a form of drawn-to-scale arrow with a specic
direction on a diagram or graph. The arrow consists of the head and tail,
where the force is going, and its initial position, respectively.
This experiment is to show how vector is distributed along its vertical
and horizontal axes with its corresponding angle. The tension of strings
are created by weighing it with a mass, and angling with the pin-pulley
on the labeled degrees. This creates a reactant force (2 or more forces
combined, known as F1, F2, , Fn) in a certain direction, then an
equilibrium force (E) is needed to cancel out the resultant force (R).
In other words, resultant and equilibrium forces need to be equal.
 Materials

Pillar Circle with labeled angles

Pinned Pulley Pin

Procedure

Masses Ring and Strings

with
different
quantity
 Procedure

1. Attach each pulley to an edge of the circle with adjusted degrees

2. Place a pin into a hole at the center of the circle

3. Place a ring at the center, covering the pin without touching it, and

release the strings out to the edge, hanging down by pulleys

4. Hang masses to the end of each strings to exert the gravity forces on

strings.

5. Balance the weight and make sure that the ring remain at rest, at the

center of the circle.

6. Record masses and degrees.

7. Repeat all the step for another trial

 Draw the Setup

Two Forces:
2 Forces

Pin and Ring

F2 F1

E1
Pinned pulley

Three Forces: 3 Forces

Circle with
labeled angles

F3 F1
F2
Pin and Ring

E1
 lt
Analysis of Resu

The results shown in the data table, table #1 and #2 represent the
resultant forces from the experiment. The table #1 is the resultant of 2
forces, while the table #2 is for 3 forces. The table #3, #4, and #5
represent the results from the calculation in which table 3 is the
calculation by graphical method. The parallelogram method which is the
method of calculating the resultant by duplicating both of the vectors
and connecting them to form a parallelogram. Then, the resultant of two
forces is the longest diagonal line. The polygon method which is
another method of calculating the resultant vector with multiple vectors
by connecting the vectors tip-to-tail then nd the length of the vector
from the starting point to the ending point. The table #4 and #5 are
results from the analytical method using sine law and cosine law. The
difference of the resultant for two forces experiment has shown in table
#6 and the resultant of three forces is shown in table #7.

According to the percent difference table, it shows that the

analytical value and the graphical value is less than the experimental
value. The error that might cause this problem is the masses used to
equilibrate is not accurate enough because the ring that hold all of the
ropes is not exactly centered. Therefore, the data doesn t give out the
exact value for the calculation. Moreover, there is also the friction
between the rope and the pulley that could affect the mass to reach the
system equilibrium, as well.
 Conclusion

From this experiment, we learn that force has both

magnitude and vector, and a resultant force consists
several vector forces. When we place a mass on the
third or fourth holder, the ring don t touch any part
on the axle. turns to equilibrium. This is because the
force is equal to the resultant force of
Conclusion
the first two/three masses and therefore
it reach equilibrium.
 n
Recommendatio

The error that might cause this problem is the masses

used to equilibrate is not accurate enough because the ring
that hold all of the ropes is not exactly centered. Therefore,
the data doesn t give out the exact value for the calculation.
Moreover, there is also the friction between the rope and the
pulley that could affect the mass to reach the system
equilibrium, as well.

References

Vectors - Motion and Forces in Two Dimensions.

(n.d.). Retrieved May 03, 2017, from http://
www.physicsclassroom.com/class/vectors
Vector intro for linear algebra. (n.d.). Retrieved May
03, 2017, from https://www.khanacademy.org/math/
linear-algebra/vectors-and-spaces/vectors/v/vector-
introduction-linear-algebra