Physics for Engineers – Laboratory

Finding Resultant Vector

OBJECTIVE:
To determine the sum (resultant) of vectors
THEORY:
Vector, in PHYSICS, a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. It is typically represented by an
arrow whose direction is the same as that of the quantity and whose length is proportional to the
quantity’s magnitude. Although a vector has magnitude and direction, it does not have position. That is,
as long as its length is not changed, a vector is not altered if it is displaced parallel to itself.
To qualify as a vector, a quantity having magnitude and direction must also obey certain rules of
combination. One of these is vector addition, written symbolically as A + B = C (vectors are
conventionally written as boldface letters). Geometrically, the vector sum can be visualized by placing the
tail of vector B at the head of vector A and drawing vector C—starting from the tail of A and ending at
the head of B—so that it completes the triangle. If A, B, and C are vectors, it must be possible to perform
the same operation and achieve the same result (C) in reverse order, B + A = C.
PROCEDURE:
1. Go to: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/vector-addition/latest/vector-addition_en.html
2. Click on Lab
3. On the upper right, check the tick box of the Values, angle and the grid to see more information
on the plane.
4. Drag an arrow (cyan colored) and place it on the plane. Place the tail of the arrow at the origin
and point the arrow to 90 degrees with arrow length of 15 units.
5. Drag another arrow, of the same color, and place its tail on the head of the first arrow. The length
of the second arrow must be 13 units.
6. Connect the tail of the first arrow to the head of the second arrow by dragging another arrow,
(orange). The “orange arrow will serve as the resultant vector or the sum of the two arrows. Note
that you also formed a right triangle.
7. You can use Pythagorean theorem to solve the hypothenuse. To solve its direction, you may use
tan Ø = 15/13

Part II
1. Drag these arrows to the plane…
a. 15.2 units @ 23.2 degrees
b. 12.2 units @ 145 degrees
c. 8.1 units @ -150.3 degrees
2. Make sure that you follow the” head-to-tail” sketching of those three vectors. That is – the tail
of the second vector must be drawn from the tail of the previous vector. Do the same for the
third vector, or until you draw all the given vectors.
3. To find the resultant vector. Connect the tail of the first vector to the head to the last vector
using the orange arrow. The orange arrow represents the resultant vector. The magnitude of the
resultant vector is 9.5 units with an angle of 108.4 degrees.

NOTE: always use the standard angle and NOT THE NEGATIVE CO-TERMINAL angle for
the direction of the resultant vector. Standard angle is an angle when the initial side is
the +x axis and the terminal side was measured counter clockwise from the initial side.
(Students OUTPUT)

1. Drag 5 arrows, with random (desired) magnitude and direction, to the plane and find its
resultant vector.

MAGNITUDE DIRECTION
(Units) (standard angle)

Vector 1

Vector 2

Vector 3

Vector 4

Vector 5

Resultant
Vector

Show complete solution in determining the resultant result vector.

SKECTCH (screenshot) of NUMBER 1:

2. Four unknown vectors were added and will yield a resultant vector located in the fourth
quadrant with unknown magnitude, estimate/predict all the unknown vector.
 MAGNITUDE DIRECTION
(Units) (standard angle)

Vector 1

Vector 2

Vector 3

Vector 4

Resultant
Vector

Show complete solution in determining the resultant vector.

SKECTCH (screenshot) of NUMBER 2:

3. Utilize the FIVE vectors you have in number 1, Show that the resultant vector in number 1 if it is
correct by computing the resultant vector using COMPONENT METHOD.

Questions: (answer the following questions: copy the questions and answer)
Show complete solutions. Round off answers to the 2nd decimal place.

1. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the following vectors using Laws of Sines and
Cosines: 10 N, E 50°N and 8 N, W10°S.

2. A spelunker is surveying a cave. She follows a passage 180 m straight west, then 210 m in a direction
of 45° east of south and then 280 m at 30° east of north. How far and in what direction must she walk
further to go back to the starting point? Use component method.

3. A hiker begins a trip by first walking 25.0 km southeast from her car. She stopped and set up her tent
for the night. On the second day she walks 40.0 km in a direction 60.0 0 north of east, at which point she
discovers a forest ranger’s tower?

4. The following forces are applied to a body. What is the magnitude and direction of the resultant force
acting on the body? 3 N, 45° east of north; 5 N, 60° south of east

5. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the three forces below.

2 N, 270° ; 6 N, 300° ; 4 N, 45°