Addition of Non-Perpendicular Vectors
Now we will consider situations in which the two (or more) vectors that are being added are not at right angles to each other. The Pythagorean theorem is not applicable to such…
SOH CAH TOA and the Direction of Vectors
The above discussion explains the method for determining the magnitude of the resultant for three or more perpendicular vectors. The topic of direction has been ignored in the discussion. Now…
Addition of Three or More Right Angle Vectors
As our first example, consider the following vector addition problem:Example 1: A student drives his car 6.0 km, North before making a right hand turn and driving 6.0 km to the East.…
Component Method of Vector Addition
Earlier in this lesson, we learned that vectors oriented at right angles to one another can be added together using the Pythagorean theorem. For instance, two displacement vectors with magnitude and…
Trigonometric Method of Vector Resolution
The trigonometric method of vector resolution involves using trigonometric functions to determine the components of the vector. Earlier in lesson 1, the use of trigonometric functions to determine the direction of…
Parallelogram Method of Vector Resolution
The parallelogram method of vector resolution involves using an accurately drawn, scaled vector diagram to determine the components of the vector. Briefly put, the method involves drawing the vector to…
Vector Resolution
As mentioned earlier in this lesson, any vector directed at an angle to the horizontal (or the vertical) can be thought of as having two parts (or components). That is, any…
Vector Components
A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. Displacement, velocity, acceleration, andforce are the vector quantities that we have discussed thus far in the Physics Classroom Tutorial. In the first couple of units, all…
Resultants
The resultant is the vector sum of two or more vectors. It is the result of adding two or more vectors together. If displacement vectors A, B, and C are added together, the result…
Use of Scaled Vector Diagrams to Determine a Resultant
The magnitude and direction of the sum of two or more vectors can also be determined by use of an accurately drawn scaled vector diagram. Using a scaled diagram, the head-to-tail…
