Republic of the Philippines

BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY

The National Engineering University
BatStateU Balayan
Caloocan, Balayan, Batangas
COLLEGE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
BACHELOR OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

Name: _______________________________ BATSTATEU - BALAYAN

Section: ____________________ Date: ______________

LABORATORY EXERCISE NO.1

VECTOR ADDITION

Objective:
To familiarize oneself with the law of vector addition and to practice the
techniques involved with vector addition, both algebraically and graphically.

Theory:
A scalar quantity is a number that has only a magnitude. When scalar
quantities are added together, the result is a sum. Vectors are quantities that have
both magnitude and direction; specific methods of addition are required. When
vector quantities are added, the result is a resultant. For example, if you walk 1 mile
north, then 1 mile east, you will walk a total distance of 2 miles (distance is a scalar
quantity). Displacement, a vector, involves both distance and direction. So, the same
2-mile walk results in a displacement of √2 miles northeast of where you began (≈
1.41 miles, northeast of your starting position).

Equipment:
Ruler
Protractor
Graph Paper
Colored Pen

Procedure:
Part 1: (Tail to Head Method)
1. Starting at the origin of coordinates, the following displacements are made
in the xy-plane (that is, the displacements are coplanar): 60mm in the +y-
direction, 90mm in the +x-direction, 80mm at 135°, 70mm at 180°and
100mm at 90°.
2. Using ruler and protractor, draw the five (5) vectors on the graph paper,
starting each one on the origin. You should place the origin near the center of
the paper. Use different colors for each vector Let 20mm = 1cm on graph of
paper.
 Republic of the Philippines
BATANGAS STATE UNIVERSITY
The National Engineering University
BatStateU Balayan
Caloocan, Balayan, Batangas
COLLEGE OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY
BACHELOR OF INDUSTRIAL TECHNOLOGY

3. Label the five vectors as (A, B, C, D, and E) respectively.

4. Add together the vectors graphically. Draw vector A starting from the origin
then vector B beginning from tip (or head) of vector A.
5. Continue drawing until all vectors are drawn.
6. Draw the resultant R, from the origin to the tip of the last vector drawn.
7. With the use of ruler, measure and record the resultant R, together with its
angle θ with respect to +x-axis.

Part 2: Component Method

1. Use the drawn diagram from Part 1 – Procedure #2 as reference (free-body
diagram).
2. Calculate the x and y component of each vector (displacement)
3. Calculate the resultant R, together with its angle θ with respect to +x-axis.

Result and Data Calculation:

Conclusion:
Compare the result from the two methods for the resultant R and θ. Write a
detailed conclusion about this and what you have learned.