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Name: ____________________________ Score: ______________________________

Course, Yr. & Sec.: _______________ Date Performed: __________________
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Instructor: ________________________

Experiment No. 4
VECTORS
I. OBJECTIVE:

To determine the resultant vector using actual measurement and graphical method and
compare the results in an analytical method.

II. CONCEPTUAL BACKGROUND:

Physical quantities are not limited to scalars and vectors. In general, there are tensors. Scalar is
tensor of rank 0 and vector is tensor of rank 1. Quantities that are generally represented by magnitude
only are called scalars. Those that are represented by both magnitude and direction are called vectors.
When we specify the mass of a book, it is sufficient to give a quantity referring to its magnitude, say 1
kg. Mass, therefore, is an example of a scalar quantity.
Other quantities, however, cannot be completely specified by a magnitude and a unit alone. To
describe the velocity of a car by saying 120 km/hr is incomplete. There is still a need to describe the
motion or direction of the car. A complete description may then be said as 120 km/hr towards north.
With that, velocity is an example of vector quantity. Other examples of vector quantity are
displacement, force, and acceleration. These quantities are all expressed in terms of magnitude and
direction.
Scalar and vector quantities obey different rules for addition and subtraction. Scalar quantities
follow the rules used for ordinary numbers. To get the sum of two or more vectors, we may use the
graphical or analytical method. The resultant vector denotes the sum of two or more vectors. The vector
equal to and opposite the resultant vector is called the equilibrant.
In the graphical method of finding the resultant vector, the vectors are represented by an arrow
and are drawn to a convenient scale. The length of the arrow represents the magnitude of the vector
and the arrowhead represents the direction. Using the parallelogram or polygon methods, resultant
vectors are computed using mathematical procedures and formulas. The vectors are no longer drawn
according to scale but a rough sketch can be made to represent the vector.

III. APPARATUS AND MATERIALS:

 Protractor/Compass  Chalk or any marking tool

 Ruler  Rope or string
 Graphing Paper

IV. PROCEDURE AND GATHERING OF DATA:

Displacement 1
1. Stand in the middle of an open field/space, at your current position put a mark 0.
2. Walk 5 ft northward (the scale of 1 foot is the actual size of your foot) and put a mark A.
3. Walk 8 ft westward and put a mark B.
4. Walk 15 ft, 30° North of East, and put a mark C.
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5. Walk from point C to point 0 and record your result in Table 1.

6. Follow the same procedure but this time on the graphing paper (scale is ¼ inch = 1 ft) to
determine the resultant vector.
7. Lastly, follow again the same procedure using analytical method to determine the resultant
vector.
Displacement 2
1. Stand in the middle of an open field/space, at your current position put a mark 0.
2. Walk 10 ft south (the scale of 1 foot is the actual size of your foot) and put a mark A.
3. Walk 20 ft, 60° West of North, and put a mark B.
4. Walk 15 ft, 30° North of East, and put a mark C.
5. Walk from point C to point 0 and record your result in Table 2.
6. Follow the same procedure but this time on the graphing paper (scale is ¼ inch = 1 ft) to
determine the resultant vector.
7. Lastly, follow again the same procedure using analytical method to determine the resultant
vector.

V. DATA AND RESULTS:

Table 1. Displacement 1
RESULTANT (with direction)
V1 V2 V3
(ft) (ft) (ft) Actual
Graphical Analytical
Measurement

Percentage Error
a. Analytical Method vs. Actual Measurement = __________________%
b. Analytical Method vs. Graphical Method = __________________%

Table 2. Displacement 2
RESULTANT (with direction)
V1 V2 V3
(ft) (ft) (ft) Actual
Graphical Analytical
Measurement

Percentage Error
a. Analytical Method vs. Actual Measurement = __________________%
b. Analytical Method vs. Graphical Method = __________________%
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VI. COMPUTATIONS:
(Use another sheet, if necessary)
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VII. QUESTIONS AND PROBLEMS:

1. Is there a difference between the actual measurements and the other two methods? What do
you think are the factors affecting the results?

2. Why is sign convention important in computing vectors?

3. A student drives 15 km East, then 7 km South, then 8 km West. Find the magnitude and
direction of the resultant displacement using analytical method.

4. The resultant of two forces in a plane is 400 lbs at 120 0. If one of the forces is 200 lbs at 20 0,
what is the other?
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VIII. CONCLUSION
(Summarize your findings)

IX. DOCUMENTATIONS:
(Use another sheet if there is not enough space.)