PHY433-430 – Lab 1

Experiment 1

Topic: Vector

Objective:
The experiment is to illustrate the principles of vector addition and subtraction by
component methods.

Apparatus:
1. PhET Simulations
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/html/vector-addition/latest/vector-addition_en.html
2. Paper
3. Pen
4. Calculator

Theory:
A vector is a quantity which has both magnitude and direction. In Physics it is usually
represented by an arrow the length of which indicates the magnitude while the arrowhead
indicates the direction. In 2-dimensions, the arrow that represents a vector quantity
𝑎⃗ can be resolved into two components in the x and y direction usually labelled as
𝑎⃗𝑥 and 𝑎⃗𝑦 as illustrated in Fig. 1.
+y

𝑎⃗
𝑎⃗𝑦

𝑎⃗𝑥 +x

Fig. 1
The relationship between the magnitudes of the vector 𝑎, 𝑎𝑥 , 𝑎𝑦 and angle  based on the
right-angled triangle where 𝑎 is the hypotenuse are given as follows:

Trigonometric Ratios Pythagoras’ Theorem

𝑎𝑥
cos 𝜃 = ⟹ 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎 cos 𝜃 𝑎 = √𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑎𝑦2
𝑎

𝑎𝑦
sin 𝜃 = ⟹ 𝑎𝑦 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃
𝑎

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 𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑦
tan 𝜃 = ⟹ 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑥
The expression relating 𝑎, 𝑎𝑥 , 𝑎𝑦 and  based on the Trigonometric Ratios depends on
the given angle . If the angle  is between the vector 𝑎
⃗ and the y-axis as shown in Fig.
2, the expressions will be given as follows:

+y

𝑎⃗
𝑎⃗𝑦 

𝑎⃗𝑥 +x

Fig. 2

Trigonometric Ratios Pythagoras’ Theorem

𝑎𝑥
sin 𝜃 = ⟹ 𝑎𝑥 = 𝑎 sin 𝜃 𝑎 = √𝑎𝑥2 + 𝑎𝑦2
𝑎

𝑎𝑦
cos 𝜃 = ⟹ 𝑎𝑦 = 𝑎 cos 𝜃
𝑎

𝑎𝑥 𝑎𝑥
tan 𝜃 = ⟹ 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
𝑎𝑦 𝑎𝑦

Addition of Vectors

Two or more vectors can be added which will give a total or resultant vector. This vector
addition can be carried out by graphical and analytical (components) method.

Fig. 3 illustrates the addition of 2 vector V1 and V2 by components.

2
 

Fig. 3 

𝑉𝑦
𝑉 = √𝑉𝑥2 + 𝑉𝑦2 𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( )
𝑉 𝑥

Fig. 4 illustrates the addition of 3 displacement vectors by components to find the total
displacement of the airplane.

Fig. 4

2 2
𝐷𝑅 = √𝐷𝑅𝑥 + 𝐷𝑅𝑦 = √(600)2 + (−750)2
= 960 𝑘𝑚

𝐷𝑅𝑦 −750
𝜃 = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( ) = 𝑡𝑎𝑛−1 ( ) = −51°
𝐷𝑅𝑥 600
Total displacement = 960 km S of E (below the x-axis)

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Subtraction of Vectors

Fig. 5 illustrates the subtraction of two vectors V2 – V1 = V2 + (– V1). The resultant

vector from the subtraction can be determined by component method.

Fig. 5
Directional Information

The directional information in physics problem involving vector quantities especially in

kinematics is usually described in terms of North, South, East and West where the eastern
and western direction correspond to the + and – direction of the x-axis while the northern
and southern direction correspond to the + and – direction of the y-axis. Hence it is
important to understand the stated direction of the vectors in the questions.

Fig. 6 shows the directional description of the displacements A, B and C.

N
A = 13 km NW +y

45 A = 10 km 35 N of E

35
W E
−x +x
60

B = 8 km 60 S of W
Fig. 6
S

Instructions:
Part A
1. Start the vector PhET simulation and click at Explore 2-D.

2. Spend a few minutes to understand and explore the functionalities of the different
tabs and panels (Fig. 7).

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 Fig. 7 : Vector PhET simulation

3. Drag two vectors 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗ from the vector the panel (2) to graph paper (1). Then,
adjust their length and orientations.

4. Record their magnitudes and the angles in Table 1.

5. Calculate the x and y-component of the two vectors 𝑎⃗ and 𝑏⃗⃗ using the formula.

6. Find the x-component of the resultant 𝑠𝑥 by using the formula.

7. Find the y-component of the resultant 𝑠𝑦⃗ by using the formula.

8. Record the observed value obtained from the graph paper (1) in Table 1.

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Table 1: Addition of two vectors by algebraic method and observation from experiment

Part B

Your cat is running around the grass in your back yard. He undergoes successive
displacements 7.00 m north, 5.70 m southeast, and 15.0 m east. What is the resultant
displacement of the cat?

a) Determine the resultant displacement of the cat by

i) the component method using the calculator and
ii) the 2-D vector PhET simulation.

b) Show the calculation and the PhET simulation image of the resultant displacement.

c) Discuss the results of both methods.

Part C

Two displacement vectors are given as: X = 18.0 km 56.3 E of N and

Y = 11.2 km 26.6 N of W
a) Determine X – Y by
i) the component method using the calculator and
ii) the 2-D vector PhET simulation.

b) Show the calculation and the PhET simulation image of the resultant displacement.

c) Discuss the results of both methods.

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Part D

Fig. 8 shows two persons pulling a box. The person on the right pulls with a force F1 of
magnitude 117 N and direction of 1 = 59.0°. The person on the left pulls with a force F2
of magnitude 82.0 N and direction of 2 = 76.0°.

a) Using the calculator and PhET simulation, determine

i) the single force that is equivalent to the two forces shown and
ii) the force that a third person would have to exert on the box to make the resultant
force equal to zero. The forces are measured in units of newtons (symbolized N).

b) Show the calculation and the PhET simulation image of the equivalent force in a)i)
and the force by the third person in a)ii).

c) Discuss the results of both methods.

Fig. 8