EXPERIMENT 1

RESULTANT VECTORS

OBJECTIVE

To use the graphical and analytical methods to determine the resultant vector sum of the given vectors placed
on the force table.

PROCEDURE

1. Access the simulation package thru https://www.geogebra.org/m/ygq9m5rd.

2. For your group, you are to select/assign non-zero values for the four sets of masses and angles representing
each force (a vector quantity). Convert each mass to kilogram and multiply them by the acceleration due to
gravity (9.8 m/s2). This will then be the magnitude of the forces in the unit of Newton, N. The angle or
direction for this simulation is always with respect to the +x direction or the East. Thus, all answers will also
follow this assignment of direction. Record all values on table 1. Note that you are to make sure that your
group’s forces are unique with other groups.

3. Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant force in three ways. First is by ticking “Resultant”
found in the simulation screen. Next is by using the component method. Then lastly by polygon method
where the scale used should be indicated in your plot. Record your data on table 2.

4. Calculate the percentage difference values between your data. Record these on table 3.
DATA SHEET
EXPERIMENT 1
RESULTANT VECTORS

NAMES: Caga, Caiña,Dela Paz, Eduria, Enriquez SECTION: PHYS 11L YA

Date Performed: August 20, 2021 Date Submitted: 8-24-21

DATA

Table 1

VECTOR MAGNITUDE DIRECTION

𝐹1⃑ 2.84 N 148° NW

𝐹2⃑ 3.53 N 43° NE

𝐹3⃑ 2.65 N 328° SE

𝐹4⃑ 1.86 N 216° SW
 Table 2

PARAMETER SIMULATION POLYGON METHOD COMPONENT METHOD

Resultant Magnitude 1.68N 1.84N 1.68N

Resultant Direction 57.33°NE 51.0°NE 57.09°NE

Polygon Method
Component Method
Table 3

PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE
SIMULATION VERSUS
Magnitude Direction
Polygon Method 9% 11.7%

Component Method 0% 0.42%

Simulation vs Polygon

Simulation vs Component
1. Describe the polygon method for finding the resultant of two or more vectors.

In the polygon method, the present vectors are going to be connected to help find their sum or the resultant
vector. However, using this method may produce inaccurate measurements because of the specific decimals
that might be difficult to graph. One advantage the polygon method offers is that it provides the experimenters
a visual representation of the vectors.

2. Describe the component method for finding the resultant of two or more vectors.

In this method, we had to find the resultant vector using the component method in order to add different
vectors to one another. we had to get the x and y components of the vectors by using the Sine and Cosine law,
respectively. The x components from each vector were added to get the sum. Same was done to get the sum
of y components. And to determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector, trigonometric
functions were used.

3. Discuss your results in table 3.

When comparing polygon method to component method, polygon method as a method that aims to find the
sum of vectors or resultant vector, may produce inaccurate measurements of the components (magnitude and
direction) because of the specific decimals which make it harder to graph. Component method, on the other
hand, produces more exact measurements for the magnitude and direction because it makes use of the
periodic functions sine, cosine, and tangent that would help come up with more accurate measurements. In
our results the polygon method has shown higher percentage difference in magnitude compared to
component method; while component method has shown a lower percentage difference compared to the
polygon method.
4. Use component method to find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the following vectors: 𝐴⃑ =
1500 units directed south of east; 𝐵⃑ = 2000 units directed 30° north of west; 𝐶⃑ = 900 units directed 15° west
of south. Show your solution.

100 units = 1 meter