Physics: Vector Components

Objectives

• Students will explore the relationship between a vector and its components.
• Students will explore how two vectors may be combined to produce a resultant vector.
• Students will be able to calculate the resultant of two vectors which are added.

Vocabulary

• clockwise
• collinear
• component
• counterclockwise
• parallel
• perpendicular
• quadrant
• resultant
• magnitude and direction

About the Lesson

This lesson first explores the relationship between the magnitude and direction of a vector and the components of the vector. It then explores how two vectors are added to produce a resultant vector. Vector addition progresses from collinear vectors to perpendicular vectors and finally to general vectors.
As a result, students will:

• Describe how the magnitude and direction of a vector determine its components.
• Calculate the magnitude and direction of the resultant vector when two perpendicular vectors are added.
• Determine the resultant vector when two general vectors are added by using the components of the vectors.