Lab Report

Hypothesis: I can successfully add vectors.

Introduction: A vector is a quantity that has magnitude (speed, force, and/or length) and direction. For example, if a person is traveling East at 60 mph, then s/he is traveling in the direction East and at a magnitude of 60 mph. A scalar is a quantity with only a magnitude. Common scalars include currency, mass, time, and acceleration. It wouldn't make sense to say the sweater costs $38.00 southwest, so we leave off the direction. The magnitude symbol ( ), an arrow, can express direction by its angle on a coordinate plane and its length, which is usually offered. In this lab, I also use the directional measurement unit of Azimuth (Az), which is conducted by starting at North and rotating clockwise to the desired angle, most probably the angle of the vector. Adding vectors, either two positive, two negative, or one of each is done most easily by resolving, or finding each vectors' (A, B,C,...) x and y components. Here is an example of how to resolve then add vectors:

Procedure: See lab book.

Data:

Trial 1 Magnitude (g) Direction (Az) X (N) Y (N)

A 100.00 0 0 1.00

B 100.00 93.00 .998 -.052

C 100.00 177.00 .052 -.998

D 100.00 270.00 -1.00 0

Trial Percent Error (%)

1 5.0

2 1.0

3 38.2

4 11.8

Trial 2 Magnitude (g) Direction (Az) X (N) Y (N)

A 120.00 332.00 -.563 1.06

B 100.00 75.00 .966 .259

C 100.00 150.00 .500 -.866

D 100.00 234.00 -.809 -.588

Trial 3 Magnitude (g) Direction (Az) X (N) Y (N)

A 170.00 277.00 -1.687 .207

B 200.00 60.00 1.732 1.00

C 100.00 148.00 .530 -.848