Vector Addition Help for Mid-term Physics Exam

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In summary, the conversation is about the difficulties of dealing with vectors in physics, particularly in relation to an upcoming midterm. The speaker requests help on studying and understanding vectors, including resources and formulas for adding them.
  • #1
StaticShock
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I have a mid-term coming up on physics. Oh, I can handle forces, a 2 body diagram, gravitational acceleration just fine.

Then there are the vectors. Evil little things.

In any case, I need help on studing them. If you could provide me with some good info on how to deal with them in varius ways (Adding them, etc), or at least providing easy to follow links with good information, It would be appricated. Any forumlas or properties that you may think helpful would be appricated as well.
 
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  • #2
http://www.glenbrook.k12.il.us/gbssci/phys/Class/vectors/u3l1b.html you go.
 
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  • #3
Vectors have the exact properties of dispacements. If you know how to add displacements, then you know how to add vectors.
 

FAQ: Vector Addition Help for Mid-term Physics Exam

What is vector addition and why is it important in physics?

Vector addition is the mathematical process of combining two or more vectors to produce a resulting vector. In physics, vectors are used to represent physical quantities such as velocity, force, and acceleration, which have both magnitude and direction. Vector addition is important in physics because it allows us to accurately describe and calculate the motion and interactions of objects in the physical world.

How do you add two vectors using the graphical method?

The graphical method of vector addition involves drawing the two vectors to scale on a coordinate plane and then connecting the tail of the first vector to the head of the second vector. The resulting vector, known as the resultant, is then drawn from the tail of the first vector to the head of the second vector. The magnitude and direction of the resultant can then be determined using basic trigonometry.

Can you explain the concept of vector components and how they are used in vector addition?

Vector components are the parts of a vector that are parallel to the x and y axes of a coordinate plane. They can be calculated using trigonometric functions and are used in vector addition to break down a vector into its x and y components. This allows for simpler addition of vectors by adding their x-components and y-components separately and then combining them to find the resultant vector.

What are the rules for adding vectors algebraically?

The rules for adding vectors algebraically are:

  • Add the x-components of the vectors to find the x-component of the resultant.
  • Add the y-components of the vectors to find the y-component of the resultant.
  • Use the Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude of the resultant by taking the square root of the sum of the squares of the x and y components.
  • Use inverse trigonometric functions to find the direction of the resultant.

Can you provide an example of vector addition in a real-life scenario?

One example of vector addition in a real-life scenario is calculating the velocity of a boat in a river. The velocity of the boat relative to the ground is a combination of the boat's velocity in still water and the velocity of the river's current. These two velocities can be represented as vectors and added together to find the resultant velocity of the boat. This can be useful for navigation and determining the time it will take to reach a destination.

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