VECTORS

I. Introduction
A vector is a mathematical object that has a size, called the magnitude, and a direction.
For example, a vector would be used to show the distance and direction something moved in. If you
ask for directions, and a person says "Walk one kilometer towards the North", that's a vector. If he
says "Walk one kilometer", without showing a direction, it would be a scalar. We usually draw
vectors as arrows. The length of the arrow is proportional to the vector's magnitude. The direction in
which the arrow points is the vector's direction.

II. Objectives
 The difference between vector quantity and scalar quantity
 How to add vectors or find the resultant of two or more vectors using
the components method
 How to use te different notations of a vector quantity
 How to resolve vector quantity into ts components

1. Place a mass of 50 g on one hanger at 40 degrees above the x-axis and a mass
of 100 g at 150 degrees on another hanger. These two masses would represent
F 1 and ⃗
⃗ F 2 . Find a third mass ⃗E that would balance the two forces. Tabulate the
measurements in table 2.
2. Place a mass of 50 g on one hanger at 45 degrees above the x-axis and a mass
of 150 g at 90 degrees on another hanger. These two masses would represent
F 1 and ⃗
⃗ F 2 . Find a third force ⃗
F 3 or ⃗
E that would balance the two forces.
Tabulate the measurements in Table 2.
 3. Place a mass of 50 g on one hanger at 45 degrees above the x-axis, a mass of
100 g at 135 degrees on another hanger and a mass of 50 g at 25 degrees on a
third hanger. These three masses would represent ⃗ F 1 ,⃗
F 2 and⃗
F 3. Find a fourth
force ⃗
F 4 or ⃗
E that would balance the three forces. Tabulate the measurements in
table 3.
Note: the force that would balance the system is called the equilibrant of the
system of forces. It has the same magnitude but opposite direction with the
resultant force of the forces.
Table 1

Quantity F
⃗ F2
⃗ E
⃗ R
⃗ %E
Magnitude
Angle
Table 2

Quantity F1
⃗ F2
⃗ E
⃗ R
⃗ %E
Magnitude
Angle
Table 3

Quantity F1
⃗ F2
⃗ F3
⃗ E
⃗ R
⃗ %E
Magnitud
e
Angle

PART B – 1: TWO VECTORS

1. Hang two spring balances on each pulley in the upper part of the force frame. See
the diagram on force frame (two vectors).
2. Using a string, connect the hooks of the spring balances as shown in the same
figure.
3. Place a 600g mass in a weight hanger and suspend the weight hanger on the string
connecting the hooks of the two spring balances. Adjust the position of the weight
hanger and length of the string until such time that the knot is at the center of the
frame and the readings of the spring balances are still within the limit of the scale.
Make it a point that the weight hanger does not touch the frame.
 4. As shown in the diagram, mark the spring balances as ⃗ F 1 and ⃗
F 2. Add the 600g
mass of the weight of the hanger and represent it as W. By means of a protractor
supported by an iron stand, measure the angles α and β as shown in the diagram.
5. Tabulate the results of ⃗
F 1 and ⃗
F 2 , W, α and β in table 4.

PART B – 2 :THREE VECTORS

1. Using diagram on force frame (Three Vectors), repeat steps 1 to 3 of Part B -1

TABLE 4

PART B - 1 PART B -2
F1
⃗
F2
⃗
F3
⃗
W
α
β
θ
Resultant using
graphical method
% error in graphical
method
Resultant using
analytical method
% error in analytical
method

III. COMPUTATION

For Part A :

R of ⃗
1. For procedure 1, determine the resultant force ⃗ F 1 and ⃗F 2 using :
A. Parallelogram Method (graphical solution)
B. Sine and Cosine Law method (analytical solution) then, compare ⃗ F 3 to the resultant force ⃗R.
2. For procedure 2, compute the resultant force ⃗R of ⃗
F 1 and ⃗F 2 using :
A. Parallelogram Method (graphical solution)
B. Rectagunlar-Component Method (analytical solution) then, compare ⃗ F 3 to the resultant force
R.
⃗
3. For procedure 2, compute the resultant force ⃗R of ⃗
F 1, ⃗
F 2 and ⃗F 3 using :
A. Polygon Method (graphical solution)
B. Rectagunlar-Component Method (analytical solution) then, compare ⃗ F 4 to the resultant force
R
⃗ .

PART B – 1: TWO VECTORS

F 1 and ⃗
1. Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultants of the forces ⃗ F 2 using :
A. Parallelogram Method (graphical solution)
B. Rectangular-Component Method (analytical solution)
2. Obtain the corresponding equilibrant. Calculate the percentage error in each method by
comparing the weight, W, which serves as the experimental value and equilibrant as the standard
value.
PART B – 2 : THREE VECTORS

F 1, ⃗
1. Determine the magnitude and direction of the resultant of the forces of ⃗ F 2 and ⃗
F 3 using :
A. Polygon Method (graphical solution)
B. Rectangular – component method (analytical solution)
C. Determine the corresponding equilibrant. Determine the percentage error in each method by
comparing the weight, W which serves as the experimental value and the equilibrant as the
standard value.

Conclusion:
In this laboratory activity, I learned a lot regarding vectors. I was able to
understand how vectors work, how to compute the resultant force of two or
three vectors. I was able to practice using different method in solving vector
related problems. One of these methods is the parallelogram method which is
at first looks complicated. But as I use it in solving problem I find out that it
is not that hard than I thought. In this activity , it helped me in familiarizing
myself in vector related problems which is something I can use since we have
physics lecture subject.