AP Vector Lab

Purpose was to show graphical addition of vectors, i.e., tail to head method, worked and was commutative. We assumed, for now, that the three force vectors should cancel since there was no motion. When B+A = -C and A+B looked just like B+A and A+B+C =0 this seemed like a pretty good demonstration that tail to head worked and was commutative.

Many of you did not add vector C to vector (A+B) as requested in paragraph B. All you had to do to find A+B+C was transfer vector B so its tail lay at the head of vector A and then transfer vector C so the tail of C was at the the head of vector B, that is the vector B in its new location. The vector A+B+C was a vector starting at the origin and going to the head of vector C in its new location. It should have been very small or even zero in magnitude.

Some of you did not provide any sketches at all. You will have to do them to get a grade.

A few of you added vectors as if they were simple numbers. This is very wrong. A force of 3 N to the left plus 3 N to the right = 0N not 6 N. A force of 2 N to the northeast plus a force of 2 N to the northwest = 2.83 N to the north not 4 N north or anywhere else.