BROWSE

Resource Description:

Vector Addition Simulation

Interactive Physics Simulations: Fun, interactive simulations of physical phenomena from the Physics Education Technology project at the University of Colorado
http://phet.colorado.edu/web-pages/index.html

Use this simulation to show students (or let them learn) how to add vectors graphically. Drag vectors onto a graph, change their length and angle, and show that their vector sum is the result of adding them head-to-tail. Or use the component method to show how the X and Y components of each vector can be added to find the resultant. Once you display the resultant (the sum of the vectors), you can show how changing the values of any of the component vectors affect the resultant. In addition, since the magnitude and angle of each vector is given, it is easy to use this simulation to start a discussion of mathematical solutions.