Math Tools Vectors

Mathematical tools The ideas and concepts of physics are often expressed in the form of mathematics. It is interesting that we can accurately describe and predict events in this universe using the ‘language’ of mathematics – the physical universe seems to have a mathematical basis. This section offers you some help in mathematical techniques that may prove useful to you. 1. The parallelogram method Although vectors can b e added together usin g the ‘head-to-tail’ method, another method more closely related to resolving vectors can also be used. This is called the parallelogram method. This method can be described in the following steps. i) Dr aw two v ectors (A and B ) with thei r t ai ls at a common p oi nt (t he or igin). ii ) Think of t he lengths of t he vect or s as sides of a par al lelogram and draw the two missing sides to form the parallelogram. ii i) Draw a vector fr om the ori gi n to the point wh er e the ‘heads’ of th e vectors meet. This vector is the resultant – the result of adding the vectors A and B. The sequence below shows what has just been described. © WestOne Services 2009 – SCIENCE 1191 1 Vector A Vector B Step 1 Vector A Vector B Step 2 Vector A Vector B Step 3 Resultant

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Math Tools Vectors