Vectors
J. Rodriguez, J. Panis, Y.Magsipoc, A. Castillo, A. Ordoñez, M. Tombado, J. Semilla, K. Almeniana, and P. Bugacia
Industrial Engineering Department, College of Engineering
Adamson University, Ermita, Manila
In this experiment, the students will determine the resultant of different forces using different methods: graphical method; and getting the equilibrant of forces using component method the force table. Each of the three methods has their own way of getting the resultant force but as the experiment progresses, it was observed that the resultant vectors obtained through these methods are merely accurate and values are closely the same to each other.
1.) Introduction Vector quantities are quantities that deal with magnitude and direction such as force. Vectors are used to determine a resulting direction and magnitude by getting the sum of given vectors. The sum of vectors is called the resultant vector.
Graphical method uses a certain scale to determine the equivalent vector based on the drawing. It is a simple and direct way of getting the resultant force but is limited in precision.
Component method can obtain the resultant force by getting two directions at right angles to each other and getting their summations using the Pythagorean Theorem.
In getting the equilibrant of the given forces, a force table can be used (see Fig. 1.1). The equilibrant of a set of forces is the single force that must be obtained with the set of forces to maintain in the system in equilibrium.
Figure 1.1 (Force table)
These are the objectives of the experiment that is provided for vectors:
a.) To study vectors and graphical methods for determining the resultant of several forces.
b.) To determine the resultant and equilibrant of two and three given forces using the component method.
c.) To determine the equilibrant of the given forces using the force table.
2.) Theory
Application of the component method:
R2 = ∑Fx2 + ∑Fy2
R -
References: AdU College of Sciences Physics Dept.”College Physics 1”