Saturday, June 30, 2007
Vectors.
how to:
measuring vectors by graphical method [the easier but inaccurate method]
1. prepare materials. [ruler and pencil.]
2. scale all your measurements. [i.e. 1cm= 20m]
3. plot the measurements on wherever you want to write it [paper is recommended]
4. measure the distance from the starting point to the ending point using your ruler.
5. convert it back to the original measurement. Using the example on step 2, say you measured
26 cm, converting it back to meters, you get 52m.
measuring vectors using the component method [accurate, but may require a little knowledge on SOHCAHTOA]
1.Given the distance to be measured, start by creating a graph kinda like the cartesian plane. the vertical line will be the Y-axis while the horizontal line will be the X-axis
2.Create a right triangle with one of the sides being the distance to be measured. [We shall call this side A]
3.Using your great math skills and extensive knowledge with trigonometry, try to find the X and
Y components.
4. Add all of your X and Y components.
5.The magnitude can be determined by the use of the Pythagorean theorem and the inverse tangent function for the direction.
- Swish-Slash Swiss-Cross
