Introduction to Vectors

Exercise No. 2

Instruction: Under Component Display click the circle next to “Style 2” and Check the box next to
“Show Grid”. These settings will not change for the rest of the activity. To get a vector, grab an arrow
from the bucket. The length of the vector is found in the |R| box. The angle of the vector is in the θ
box. Place the vectors you wish to add head to tail. To get the resultant vector, hit the big “SUM”
button. Move the green sum vector so that the tail touches the tail of your first vector.

Questions:
Answer all questions in complete sentences.

Part 1.
1. Drag a vector into the grid.
a. What does Rx represent?
b. What does Ry represent?
c. What does Θ represent?
d. What does |R| represent?

2. Why does the vector have an arrowhead? What does that arrowhead indicate?

3. Reshape your first vector so that it is completely horizontal. Move that vector to (0,0). What is the
value of Rx? Ry? Θ? |R|? Do these values make sense?

4. Drag another vector into the grid. Reshape it so it is completely vertical. Move that vector so that
the tail of the arrow is touching the tip of the other vector on your screen. For this new vector, what
is the value of Rx? Ry? Θ? |R|? Do these values make sense?

5. What have you begun to create? Draw what you see on the screen TO SCALE on your own paper.

6. Click on the “Sum” button. A new vector appears on your screen. Drag it so that the tail of the
vector is at (0,0). What is the value of Rx? Ry? Θ? |R|? Do these values make sense?

7. Draw the new vector TO SCALE on the picture you drew for #5. How do you believe the value for |
R| was determined? Calculate it on your own to verify the computer’s result. SHOW ALL YOUR
WORK!

8. Does the method you used work for all triangles? If not, what special types of triangles does this
method work for?

9. Drag all of your vectors to the trash. Create a new vector that starts at (0,0) and is not completely
horizontal or completely vertical. What are the values of Rx? Ry? Θ? |R|? Do these values make
sense?

10. What type of triangle is made? Draw what you see on the computer screen on your own page TO
SCALE. Using the value of |R| and Ry, how would you calculate Rx? Verify the value of Rx by
calculating it on your own. SHOW ALL YOUR WORK!

11. Create another vector that is not completely horizontal or completely vertical. Drag it so that its tail
is touching the tip of the vector from #9. What are the values of Rx? Ry? Θ? |R|? Do these values
make sense?
12. Add the vector from #11 to your picture. Be sure to draw it TO SCALE on your paper. Click the
“Sum” button. Move the new vector so that its tail is at (0,0). Draw this vector to scale on the
drawing you made in #9 and 11.

13. For your newest vector, what are the values of Rx? Ry? Θ? |R|? Do these values make sense?

14. For your newest vector, how was Rx determined? How was Ry determined? How was |R|
determined? Try to verify the results the computer gave you by calculating the |R| yourself. SHOW
ALL YOUR WORK!

15. In general, if you know the measurements of the horizontal parts (components) of vectors and you
know the measurements of the vertical components of vectors, how can you find their sum
(resultant)?

Part 2.

Data: Answer the following questions using the simulation. For each question, draw (and label with
size and direction) the vectors you used in the sim. Use a protractor and ruler to draw the vectors
accurately, and label the sum vector.

1. You go for a walk and take 20 steps in the north direction (90°). Use the simulation to represent
your path. Draw and label your vector on your lab write-up.
a) Explain why this vector could also represent traveling at 20 mph in the north direction.
b) Next, you turn left and walk 10 steps to the west. Add the two vectors using the “sum” button.
How far from where you started did you end up?
c) In math, 2+3=3+2. What is this property called? Does this property hold for vector addition?
Try it with the scenario above by first walking 10 steps west and then walking 20 steps north.
Compare the result to the sum in part b).

2. You are going for a drive, but a detour takes you out of the way of your destination. You drive north
for 10 miles, turn right and drive east for 5 miles, turn to the north and drive for 3 miles, drive west for
10 miles, and arrive at your destination.
a) How far from where you started did you end up?
b) If you wanted to travel directly to your destination without following the streets (“as the crow
flies”), what angle would you take? What direction would a compass read?
c) Now try adding the vectors in a different order. For example, start with the 5 miles east, then 3
miles north, etc., as long as you add all four vectors. Compare the result to the sum in part a).
Draw the vectors in the order you used.

3. You are flying a hang glider at 14 mph in the northeast direction (45°). The wind is blowing at 4 mph
from due north.
a) What is your airspeed?
b) What angle (direction) are you flying?
c) The wind increases to 14 mph from the north. Now what is your airspeed and what direction
are you flying? If your destination is to the northeast, how would you change your speed or
direction so you might make it there? Test your answer using the sim.
4. A baseball weighing 0.5 kg falls from the sky. You hit it with a bat with a force of 50 N at an upward
angle of 45°.
a) Draw the free-body diagram for the falling ball before you hit it. Label the vectors on your
diagram.
b) Draw a new free-body diagram for when you are hitting the ball and use the sim to determine
the net force on the ball.

5. You hike for 1.9 hours at a speed of 3 mph in the southwest direction (-135°). Then you head ESE (-
16º) for 7.3 miles at the same speed.
a) How many miles have you hiked?
b) Use the sim to find how many miles your destination is from your starting point (as the crow
flies).
c) What direction is your destination from your starting point? What would a compass read?
d) For how many hours have you hiked?