MODULE 3: VECTOR ADDITION

I. EXPERIMENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the experiment, students should be able to:

a. determine the magnitude and direction of the equilibrant and resultant vectors using the
force table.
b. determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant vectors using the polygon method
(graphical method).

II. MATERIALS

1 force table apparatus

1 set of weights
1 1 m string
1 protractor
1 ruler

III. INTRODUCTION

A vector quantity is represented by magnitude and direction. Force, displacement and

acceleration are examples of vectors. When performing operations involving vectors, the
direction should also be considered. The sum of two or more vectors is called Resultant vector.
We can add vectors using the polygon (graphical) or component (algebraic) method. In this
experiment, we will determine the Resultant vector using the force table and the polygon
method. Resultant is the negative of the Equilibrant.

IV. PROCEDURE

Part I. Getting the Resultant Using the Force Table

1. Set up the apparatus as shown in the figure above. Tie four strings of equal length to the ring
provided with the force table.
2. Hang weights representing vectors A, B, and C at the end of each of the strings acting at the
assigned directions. Refer to Table 3.1 for the values of the vectors.
3. By trial and error, balance the three vectors by a fourth one by placing counterweights on the fourth
unused string and locating the appropriate angle or direction. This is the Equilibrant. Record the
magnitude and direction in Table 3.1. Complete the table.

Remark: The ring should be centered over the port when the system is in equilibrium. Pull the
string slightly to one side and let it go. The ring should return to the center. If not, adjust the
magnitude and direction of the fourth vector until the ring always returns to the center after pulling
it to one side.

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 Part II. Getting the Resultant Using Polygon Method

4. Use the same set of vectors A, B and C provided in Part I.

5. Use tip to tail method of graphing. Use the scale 10g is to 1cm.
6. Using a ruler and a protractor, sketch vector A. The tail of vector A should be at the origin. At the
tip of vector A (this serves as the origin of the next vector), connect vector B. Then connect vector
C at the tip of vector B.
7. Draw a line connecting the origin and the tip of vector C and an arrow tip pointing to vector C. This
is the Resultant vector. Measure the length of the line representing the resultant using a ruler and
convert it to the unit it represents. Record it in Table 3.2 as the theoretical magnitude of Resultant.
8. Measure the direction of the Resultant using a protractor and record it in Table 3.2. Complete the
table.
9. Compute the percentage difference using the equation:

|𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒚𝒈𝒐𝒏 − 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆|

% 𝑫𝒊𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 = × 𝟏𝟎𝟎 %
𝟏
(𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒚𝒈𝒐𝒏 + 𝑹𝒆𝒔𝒖𝒍𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆)
𝟐

V. DATA AND RESULTS

TABLE 3.1 Force Table

DIRECTION
MASS VECTOR (Weight) MAGNITUDE
(+ x-axis)
50g A 50°
150g B 110°
100g C 250°
Equilibrant (E)
Resultant (R)

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 TABLE 3.2 Summary of Results
RESULTANT MAGNITUDE (N) DIRECTION (degrees)
Polygon Method
Force Table
% Difference

VI. CONCLUSION

VII. CREDITS

Created by: Laboratory Committee

Version: 2.0
Modified: July 2019

VIII. REFERENCES

Committee on Physics Laboratory. Physics 1 Laboratory Manual.

Giancoli, Douglas C. (2001). Physics 5th Edition. Pearson Education, Asia Pte Ltd.
Retrieved:(1/4/12)http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=force+table+picture&qpvt=force+table
+picture&FORM=IQFRML#x 0y962
Young, Hugh D. and Freedman, Roger A. (2010). Sear’s and Zemansky’s University Physics
12th Edition. United States of America: Addison Wesley Longman, Inc.

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