Help - Vector Addition: Numerical

Vector Addition: Numerical calculates the magnitude and direction of the resultant given the magnitudes and directions of an arbitrary number of vectors to be added.


Click on a region in the image of the default applet display below to read a description of the corresponding feature:

Vector Addition: Numerical Default Applet Display

Default Applet Display Data Display Panel Applet Display Panel Data Entry Panel Control Button Panel


1. Applet Display Panel

Draw vectors of variable length and direction in the applet display panel to numerically determine their resultant. Displayed vectors can be altered by either dragging their tip in the applet display panel, or by data entry in the data entry panel.

3. Data Entry Panel

image

This option allows you to display the resultant vector in greeen (when checked) or turn off the display of the resultant (when unchecked). By default, this option is unchecked.

 

Vector Description - Specify each vector's length (in pixels) and direction (see below for a description of each of the four methods) in the data entry fields provided. Whenever the vector is changed, the data display is updated automatically.

Initial Vector Slider

Polar Positive Vector Specification - The vector is specified by its polar coordinates: magnitude and direction angle. The direction angle is taken between the vector and the 'East' direction, indicated by a dotted line. All angles are positive between 0° and 360°, increasing in the positive (counter-clockwise) sense starting at the reference line. The magnitude of the vector is in pixels.

Polar Positive

Polar Positive-Negative Vector Specification - The mode is like the Polar (positive) mode, except that all angles are measured between -180° and 180°. The angle is negative if the vector points below the horizontal axis, and is positive if the vector points above the horizontal axis. The magnitude of the vector is in pixels.

Navigational

Navigational Vector Specification - The mode is like the Polar (positive) mode, except that angles are taken relative to one of the four compass directions. The choice of compass direction used can be selected from a drop-down menu. All angles range between 0° and 360°. The magnitude of the vector is in pixels.

Navigational

Cartesian (vx,vy) Vector Specification - The vector is specified by its x- and y-components relative to the horizontal x-axis and the vertical y-axis. The x-component is shown in green, and the y-component in yellow. The magnitude of the vector is in pixels.

Cartesian

4. Control Button Panel

The applet is controlled by the following buttons.

Icon Name Description
Reset Reset

Clear all settings and start the applet over from its default state.


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©2004 Alberta Learning (www.learnalberta.ca)

Last Updated: June 16, 2004