Practical 2 – Vectors

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Objective:
 To study the resultant of vectors using simulation.

Instruction:
Switch on your laptop and connect to the Internet. Go to this web page:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/vector-addition/latest/vector-addition_en.html

Click on the Run Now! button. Navigate through the simulation based on the following
instructions and answer the questions.

The resultant force (FR) of two Forces as an example F1 & F2 can be found by two methods
analytical or graphical method.

In the analytical method each vector (Force) such as (F) which makes an angle (θ) with
horizontal x-axis is first resolved into two components. Those components are horizontal or
x-component (Fx) and vertical or y-component (Fy). Those components are given by:

θ
Fx = F cos θ , Fy = F sin θ

Consider the case of three vectors (Forces) F1, F2, F3,

FRx = F1x + F2x + F3x & FRy = F1y + F2y + F3y

The magnitude of the resultant vector (FR) is found to be the following because the
components Rx and Ry are at right angles:
| R | = √¿ ¿

and the angle (θ) that the resultant makes with x- axis is given by :
Ry
θ = tan - 1 ( )
Rx

θ
In the graphical addition process. The
resultant vector is the vector drawn from the
tail of the first vector to the head of the last
vector.
The polygon method is illustrated for the
case of three vectors as follows

β
 To verify the objectives experimentally we will use PhET simulation software and we will
act on an object by two forces and then three forces, then we will find their result and by
finding practically the equilibrate force (FE). So, the FE is the equilibrant force that must be
applied in order to keep an object in equilibrium. The magnitude and direction of this FE can
be found by trial and error experimentally. The resultant force FR can be found from
knowledge that FR and FE have the same magnitude but opposite directions.

Procedure:

Part one: Two forces acting on a ring using force table.

Use F1 as vector a and F2 as vector b on PhET simulation.

1- Resultant of two vectors

 a) Fix the first vector (F1) approximately at 22.0o angle and fix it’s magnitude
approximately at 11.0 N. (vector a)

b) Fix the second vector (F2) about 90.0o angle and control its value to be almost 8.00 N.
(vector b)

c) Find the resultant force FR ( magnitude and direction )

d) Find the force that is needed to balance the two forces (F1) and (F2) (vectors). This
force is known as FE. (vector c)

Data Analysis:

1. Use PhET simulation for each vector to display the vector’s components and then fill
F1x, F2x, F1y, F2y, FRx, FRy, and the angle θ where the equilibrant force makes with
positive x-axis in Table 1.

Table 1
Force Force (N) Direction x-component (N) y-component (N)
F1 11.7 20.0 11.0 4.0
F2 8.0 90.0 0.0 8.0
FR 16.3 47.5 11.0 12.0

2. Attach a screen shot of the graphical method.

Insert the screenshot in this column only

(DO NOT type your answers here)
3. Calculate the analytical solution for FR. Attach a screenshot of your calculation.

Insert the image file of your answer in this column only

(DO NOT type your answers here)

Vector Magnitude (N) Direction (θ) x-component y-component

(N) (N)
a 11.0 22.0 10.2 4.1
b 8.0 90.0 0.0 8.0
c 15.8 50.0 10.2 12.1

| a | = √¿ ¿ = 11.0 N | b | = √ ¿ ¿ = 8.0 N

|c | = √ ¿ ¿ = 15.8 N

12.0
θ=tan −1 =¿ 50 θ
10.0

4. Calculate the percentage error of the magnitude of the graphical solution for FR
compared to analytical solution for FR.

Insert the image file of your answer in this column only

(DO NOT type your answers here)

Percentage error = 15.8 – 16.3 × 100 % = 3.17 %

15.8

5. Find the force that is needed to balance the two forces (F1) and (F2) (vectors). This
force is known as FE (vector c) and then fill F1x, F2x, F1y, F2y, FEx, FEy, and the angle θ
where the equilibrant force makes with positive x-axis in Table 2.

Table 2
Force Force (N) Direction (θ) x-component (N) y-component (N)
F1 11.7 20.0 11.0 4.0
F2 8.0 90.0 0.0 8.0
FE 16.3 -132.5 -11.0 -12.0
6. Attach a screen shot of the graphical method.

Insert the screenshot in this column only

(DO NOT type your answers here)

7. Calculate the analytical solution for FE. Attach a screenshot of your calculation.

Insert the image file of your answer in this column only

(DO NOT type your answers here)

Force Force (N) Direction (θ) x-component y-component

(N) (N)
F1 11.0 22.0 10.2 4.1
F2 8.0 90.0 0.0 8.0
FE 15.8 -130.1 -10.2 -12.1

θ =Tan-1 -12.1 Since, FE is in fourth quadrant,

-10.2
Direction of FE = - (180 – 49.87)
= 49.87 θ = - 130.1 θ

8. Calculate the percentage error of the magnitude of the graphical solution for FE
compared to analytical solution for FE.

Insert the image file of your answer in this column only

(DO NOT type your answers here)

Percentage error = 15.8 – 16.3 × 100 % = 3.17 %

15.8
Part two: Three forces acting on a ring using force table.
2- Resultant of three vectors:

a) Fix the first vector (F1) at approximately 60.0° and it is magnitude at approximately
8.00 N. (vector a)

b) Fix the second vector (F2) at approximately 125o and control its value at
approximately 12.0 N. (vector b)

c) Fix the third vector (F3) at approximately 165o and control its value at approximately
16.0 N. (vector c)

d) Find the resultant force of these three forces FR, using PhET simulation.

Data Analysis:

1. Use PhET simulation for each vector to display the vector’s components and then fill
F1x, F2x, F1y, F2y, F3x, F3y, FR, and the angle θ where the equilibrant force makes with
positive the x-axis in Table 2.

Table 2
Force Force ( N ) Direction(θ) x-component (N) y-component (N)
F1 8.1 60.3 4.0 7.0
F2 12.2 125.0 -7.0 10.0
F3 15.5 165.1 -15.0 4.0
FR 27.7 130.6 -18.0 21.0

2. Attach a screen shot of the graphical method.

Insert the screenshot in this column only

(DO NOT type your answers here)

3. Calculate the analytical solution for FR. Attach a screenshot of your calculation.
 Insert the image file of your answer in this column only
(DO NOT type your answers here)

Force Force (N) Direction (θ) x-component y- component

(N) (N)
F1 8.0 60.0 4.0 6.9
F2 12.0 125.0 -6.9 9.8
F3 16.0 165.0 -15.5 4.1
FR 27.8 131.5 -18.4 20.8

Magnitude of FR = x 2 + y2 Direction of FR = Tan-1 20.8

-18.4

= 2
(-18.4) + (20.8) 2 =
48.5 θ
Since, it is in second quadrant ,
180 – 48.5 = 131.5 θ
Magnitude of FR = 27.8 N

4. Calculate the percentage error of the magnitude of the graphical solution for FR
compared to analytical solution for FR

Insert the image file of your answer in this column only

(DO NOT type your answers here)

Percentage error = 27.8 – 27.7 × 100 % = 0.36 %

27.8

5. Find the force that is needed to balance the three forces, FE. Given that
F 1+ F 2 + F3 + F E =0. Attach a screen shot of your calculation below.

Insert the image file of your answer in this column only

(DO NOT type your answers here)

8.0 + 12.0 + 16.0 + 27.8 + FE = 0

63.8 + FE = 0
FE = -63.8 N
 Questions :

1) What is the difference between vector and scalar quantity?

Enter/type your answer here

Scalar quantity contains magnitude only, but vector quantity contains magnitude and also
direction.

2) Classify each of the following physical quantities as vectors or scalars:

a) Volume Scalar b) Force Vector c) Density Scalar

d) Velocity Vector e) Distance Scalar f) Acceleration Vector
g) Mass Scalar h) Speed Scalar i) Weight Vector

3) What are the conditions of equilibrium for given forces?

Enter/type your answer here

Conditions of equilibrium for the given forces are the given forces should not accelerate
and the net force must be zero.

4) What are the conditions for the two vectors to be equal?

Enter/type your answer here
 
The vectors should have both the magnitude and directions equal.