Republic of the Philippines

Central Luzon State University

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING
Science City of Munoz, Nueva Ecija 3120

LABORATORY REPORT NO. 2

“VECTOR ADDITION”

A Laboratory Report Presented to the BSCE 1-1

PHYS 1200 Physics for Engineer Instructor
Mr. Richard Tagle

In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

In PHYS 1200 Physics for Engineer

SOMERA, CHRISTELLE JOYCE

SUAREZ, SHARMAINE
TOLEDO, PRINCE DAVID ART
VILLAFUERTE, MARK JHORIZ

2022
Name: Somera, Christelle Joyce Score:
Suarez, Sharmaine
Toledo, Prince David Art
Villafuerte, Mark Jhoriz
Section and Lab Schedule:BSCE 1-1 (Tuesday 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM) Date Submitted: February 2022

EXPERIMENT NO. 2
VECTOR ADDITION
Quantities in Physics can be classified as scalar quantities or vector quantities. Scalar quantities are quantities whose
measurements are specified by magnitude while vector quantities are those specified by a magnitude and direction.
A vector quantity may be represented graphically by a directed line segment, called a vector. A vector is the line
whose length indicates the magnitude of a vector quantity and the arrow indicates the direction of the quantity.

Graphical procedures have an advantage over mathematical procedures. It may be used easily for multi–vector
problems and for cases in which two forces are not acting at right angles to each other. Both types of problems
require fairly lengthy mathematical procedures to solve analytically. However, the disadvantage of using graphical
procedures is that, the accuracy of the results depends on the care taken in drawing the vector diagram. Carelessly
drawn diagrams will lead to an acceptable error.

The two graphical methods that can be used to add vectors are the Parallelogram Method and the Polygon Method.
The Parallelogram method is used for two vectors while the Polygon Method is used for two or more vectors and is
also called the tip–to–tail method.

I. OBJECTIVES: At the end of the activity, the students should be able to:
(a) determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector using graphical method
particularly, parallelogram and polygon methods;

(b) compare the degree of accuracy between the parallelogram and polygon methods to analytical
method; and

II. MATERIALS/APPARATUS:
• compass • pencil • protractor • ruler

III. DRAWING OR FIGURE

Draw and label all the materials used.

IV. PROCEDURE: Find the resultant vector of two vectors using the Parallelogram Method and
find the resultant vector of two or more vectors using the Polygon Method.

A. PARALLELOGRAM METHOD
1. Draw both the vectors from the origin.
2. Measure the magnitude of the second vector using a compass. Let this be the radius of
the circle(C1) that you will draw with the center (P1) at the first vector.

Figure 1: Left side: STEP 1, right side: STEP 2

3. Measure the magnitude of the first vector using a compass. Let this be the radius of
the circle(C2) that you will draw with the center at the second (P2) vector.
4. Connect both the vectors to the intersection (P3) of the two circles.

Figure 2: Left side: STEP 3, right side: STEP 4

5. The resultant vector would be from the origin to the intersection of the two circles.
 6. Measure the magnitude of the resultant vector and get its direction. Record this as the
graphical value of the resultant vector for the Parallelogram Method.

Figure 3: Left side: STEPS 5 and 6, right side: STEP 1 of Polygon Method

B. POLYGON METHOD
1. Draw the first vector from the origin.
2. The tip of the first vector will serve as the origin for the next vector. Draw the
second vector with its tail at the tip of the first vector.
3. Do the same for all the next vectors. The tip of the previous vector will serve as the
origin for the next vector. The tip of the previous vector connects to tail of the next
vector.
4. The resultant vector is from the tail of the first vector to the tip of the last vector.
5. Measure the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector. Record this.

Figure 4: Left side: STEP 2, right side: STEP 4

V. GRAPH, DATA, AND COMPUTATION:

A. GRAPH.
 PARALLELOGRAM METHOD
VECTORS:
� = 100�, 30° ����ℎ �� ����
� = 80�, ����ℎ
Scale: 10m:1cm
 POLYGON METHOD
VECTORS:
� = 30�, ����
� = 100�, 20° ���� �� ����ℎ
� = 60�, 50° ���� �� ����ℎ
� = 80�, ����ℎ
Scale: 10m:1cm
B. COMPUTATION:
1. Find the resultant vector of the given vectors analytically. You may use either the triangle
method or the component method for two vectors. Use the component method for two or
more vectors. Show complete solution.
Two Vectors Given:
� = 100�, 30° ����ℎ �� ����
� = 80�, ����ℎ

A (x components) B (y components)
� = 100� cos 30° = 86.60� � = 100� sin 30° = 50�
�= 0 � = 80�
� = 86.60� � = 130�

�= � 2+ � 2
� = 86.60� 2 + 130� 2

� = ���. ���

B
θ = tanh−1
A
130m
θ = tanh−1
86.60m

� = ��. ��°
�� = ���. ���, ��. ��° ����� �� ����

Two or more Vector Given:

� = 30, ����
� = 100�, 20° ���� �� ����ℎ
� = 60�, 50° ���� �� ����ℎ
� = 80�, ����ℎ

A (x components) B (y components)
� = − 30 �= 0
� = 100� sin 20° = 34.20� � = 100� cos 20° = 93.97�
� = 60� sin 50° = 45.96� � = − 60� cos 50 = − 38.57�
�= 0 � = − 80�
� = 50.16� � = − 24.6�

�= � 2+ � 2
�= 50.16� 2 + −24.6� 2

� = ��. ���

B
θ = tanh−1
A
 − 24.6�
θ = tanh−1
50.16�

� = ��. ��°
�� = ��. ���, ��. ��° ����� �� ����

Fill in the data table below with all the values that you obtained graphically and analytically

Vectors Resultant Vector Graphical Resultant Vector Analytical

Two � = 100�, 30° ����ℎ �� ���� �� = ����, �� = ���. ���,

B = 80m, Nortℎ ��° ����� �� ���� ��. ��° ����� �� ����
Vectors
� = 30, ���� �� = ���, �� = ��. ���,
Two or ��° ����� �� ���� ��. ��° ����� �� ����
more � = 100�, 20° ���� �� ����ℎ
Vectors � = 60�, 50° ���� �� ����ℎ
� = 80�, ����ℎ

2. Compute the percentage difference between the parallelogram and analytical method and also
between the polygon method and the analytical method using the formula:
2 G.V.−A.V.
%difference = G.V.+A.V. × 100%

where G.V. is the graphical value of the resultant vector and A.V. is the analytical value.
Magnitude Direction
Parallelogram 2 157 − 156.20 2 57 − 56.33
Method %difference = %difference =
157 + 156.20 57 + 56.33
× 100% × 100%
= �. �� % = �. ��%

Polygon Method 2 57 − 55.57 2 26 − 26.12

%difference = %difference =
57 + 55.57 26 + 26.12
× 100% × 100%
= �. ��% = �. ��%
3. Compute the percent accuracy (%A) of the measurements for each object. Use the formula
%A = 100% − %difference
Magnitude Direction
Parallelogram %A = 100% − %difference %A = 100% − %difference
Method %A = 100% − 0.51% %A = 100% − 1.18%
= ��. ��% = ��. ��%

Polygon Method %A = 100% − %difference %A = 100% − %difference

%A = 100% − 2.54% %A = 100% − 0.46%
= ��. ��% = ��. ��%

VI. CONCLUSION AND ANALYSIS OF ERROR:

As we see the computation given above from the experiment our conclusion and analysis
of error is that the analytical method is more accurate than the graphical method, which is
limited by the correctness of the drawing. For the graphical method, we utilized the Polygon
and Parallelogram method, and for the analytical method, we used the Pythagorean method.
Furthermore, we see that the graphical method may cause changes in measurement results,
which is why we stated that the analytical method was far more exact and precise. The
graphical approach and the analytical technique are the two strategies. The vector chart is
created using a graphical approach. To get an accurate sketch, you'll need a ruler and a
protractor, pencil, and compass knee joint. The first is the head-to-tail approach, in which
vectors are added one after the other, linking the head of one vector to the head of the next in a
continuous manner, and the resulting vector is determined by drawing a line from the tail of the
first vector to the head of the final vector (order of vectors is not important).

VII. ANSWER WHAT IS ASKED.

1. Explain the difference between polygon method and parallelogram method.

The difference of the parallelogram and polygon method is. Parallelogram method is a
method for finding sum or resultant of two vectors and the polygon method is a method for
finding the sum or resultant of two or more vectors.
 2. If three or more forces are given and you are asked to find for the magnitude and direction of
the resultant force by graphical method, which method will you use, polygon or parallelogram
method? Why?

I choose polygon method. Why? Because polygon method is the easiest method in finding
three or more forces. In finding the magnitude and the resultant of three or more forces are
drawn from head to tail. And we can measure the magnitude and the resultant of three or more
forces of a vector by measuring the starting line and the end of the line of the polygon method.

2. Compute for the magnitude and direction of two forces, each 10 newtons, one acting
vertically downwards and the other 30◦ N of E. Use polygon and parallelogram methods and
check your answer using the analytical method. Answer with complete solution.
3.
PARALLELOGRAM METHOD
F1 = 10N, 30° North of East
F2 = 10N, South
Scale: 1N:0.5cm

�� = ���, ��° ����� �� ����

 POLYGON METHOD
F1 = 10N, 30° North of East
F2 = 10N, South
Scale: 1N:1cm

�� = ���, ��. �° ����� �� ����

 ANALYTICAL METHOD

�1� = 10� cos 30

= 5 3N
�1� = 10� sin 30
= 5N

�2� = 0
�2� = 10

�� = 5 3 + 0
=5 3

�� = 5 + ( − 10)
=− 5
2
R= 5 3 + −5 2

� = ���

−5
θ = tanh−1
5 3

� = − ��° �� ��° ����� �� ����

�� = ���, ��° ����� �� ����