Name: __________________________________________ Date: _________ Period: ________
Vector Addition of a Class Change
Procedure:
1. In groups of 3, map out one member’s daily class change.
2. Find the displacement of each vector along the path. One brick counts as one foot.
3. Write the values on your map.
4. Return to class.
Analysis:
1. Using the head to tail method, draw a scale drawing of your class change. This should be done on graph
paper.
2. Orient your map so that the front of the school should is in the “ - ” y direction. The gym will be the “ + ”
x-direction.
3. Label each vector as A, B, C….
4. Show your conversions from actual distances to the scaled distances for each vector.
5. Find the resultant by drawing a vector form the tail of the first displacement vector to the head of the last
displacement vector. Using your scale, express the resultant in meters and give the angle.
6. Find the resultant mathematically by breaking each displacement vector into components. Add the
components and find the resultant. (Hint-Since each displacement vector goes in the X or Y direction only,
for each vector one of the components will equal zero).
7. Find the percent difference for the magnitude of the resultant form the scale drawing and the component
method. If A = scale drawing, B = component method then:
| A – B | x 100% = Percent Difference
(A+B)/2
Any report of misbehavior in the hallway will result in your group receiving a zero
for the lab and write up.
Hall Pass – These students are collecting data for a physics lab. They have
permission to be in the hallway on _______________. If the students are not actively collecting
data or are misbehaving, please notify me.
Steven Batchelder
Room 2007
Your write-up for this lab should include:
Graphically Vector Addition
-Vectors are drawn to scale with directions (3pts) _______
-Vectors are labeled with letter and distances (3pts) _______
-Resultant is drawn and measured.
(4pts) _______
Analytical Vector Addition
-X and Y directions are shown for all vector movements (2pts) _______
-Addition of Rx and Ry is shown
(2pts) _______
-Magnitude of R with math is shown (3pts) _______
-Direction of R with math is shown (3pts) _______
Percent Error
-calculate percent error showing math (3pts) _______
-percent error is less than %20 (7pts) _____
-percent error is less than %30 (6pts) _____
-percent error is less than %40 (5pts) _____