POGIL: Vectors Up to this time, we have been asking the question How do things move?

only for motion in one dimension. How will we answer this question for motion in two dimensions? There are an infinite number of directions an object can move in two dimensions, and so one might be driven to despair. But fear not, for we have a powerful mathematical tool that will make two dimensional motion as easy as one dimensional motion: the vector. Representation of Vector Quantities Recall that a vector quantity is one that has both magnitude and direction. The magnitude is how large the quantity is; the direction is self-explanatory. Displacement, velocity, and acceleration are all vectors. Vector quantities are represented with an arrow that points in the direction of the quantity. Below are four examples of velocity vectors with their magnitude, direction, and arrow representation shown. The arrows are drawn on a set of x-y axes to clearly show the angles.

40 magnitude: 10 m/s direction: +40

150 magnitude: 10 m/s direction: +150 80

40 magnitude: 20 m/s direction: +40 magnitude: 15 m/s direction: 80 or +280

Notice that the direction of a vector quantity is specified by drawing a set of axes whose origin lies at the tail of the arrow and measuring the angle from the +x axis. Notice also that the length of the arrow is proportional to the magnitude of the vector quantity. The two examples at the top have the same arrow length since the magnitudes are the same. The example on the bottom left has an arrow twice the length of the arrow at the upper left since the magnitude of the velocity is twice as much. 1. The following arrows represent displacement vectors. Using a scale of displacement, determine the magnitude and direction of each vector. magnitude: direction: 1 cm arrow = 2 m

magnitude: direction:

2. The following arrows represent acceleration vectors. Using a scale of 1 cm arrow = 5 m/s 2, determine the magnitude and direction of each vector. magnitude: direction:

magnitude: direction:

3. Use a protractor and ruler to draw the arrow representations of the following velocity vectors on the axes provided. Use the same scale for each arrow.

magnitude: 20 m/s direction: 120

magnitude: 30 m/s direction: +70

magnitude: 40 m/s direction: 120

magnitude: 20 m/s direction: +120

magnitude: 15 m/s direction: +270

magnitude: 25 m/s direction: 60

4. When we described the direction of vector quantities in one dimension, we simply used a positive or negative sign. Why do we not do this when specifying the direction of a vector quantity in two or three dimensions?