Vector Addition
This web page is designed to provide some additional practice with the use of scaled vector diagrams for the addition of two or more vectors. Your time will be best spent if you read each practice problem carefully, attempt to solve the problem with a scaled vector diagram, and then check your answer. You are cautioned to avoid making a quick reference to the solution prior to making your own attempt at the solution. Such a habit is likely to fail at nurturing the ability to draw a scaled vector addition diagram. If the solution to these practice problems are still not meaningful, you are encouraged to obtain some on-line help in The Physics Classroom - visit the page on vector addition.
1. Add the following vectors and determine the resultant.
3.0 m/s, 45 deg and 5.0 m/s, 135 deg
2. Add the following vectors and determine the resultant.
5.0 m/s, 45 deg and 2.0 m/s, 180 deg
3. Add the following vectors and determine the resultant.
6.0 m/s, 225 deg and 2.0 m/s, 90 deg
4. Add the following vectors and determine the resultant.
4.0 m/s, 135 deg and 4.0 m/s, 315 deg
5. Add the following vectors and determine the resultant.
5.0 m/s, 45 deg and 2.5 m/s, 135 deg
6. Add the following vectors and determine the resultant.
7.0 m/s, 0 deg and 2.0 m/s, 90 deg
7. Add the following vectors and determine the resultant.
8.0 m/s, 330 deg and 4.0 m/s, 45 deg
8. Add the following vectors and determine the resultant.
2.0 m/s, 150 deg and 4.0 m/s, 225 deg
9. Add the following vectors and determine the resultant.
3.0 m/s, 45 deg and 5.0 m/s, 135 deg and 2.0 m/s, 60 deg
10. Add the following vectors and determine the resultant.
2.0 m/s, 315 deg and 5.0 m/s, 180 deg and 2.0 m/s, 60 deg
11. Add the following vectors and determine the resultant.
4.0 m/s, 90 deg and 2.0 m/s, 0 deg and 2.0 m/s, 210 deg
12. Add the following vectors and determine the resultant.
2.5 m/s, 45 deg and 5.0 m/s, 270 deg and 5.0 m/s, 330 deg
NOTE: Since your answers were determined using a scaled vector diagram, small errors in the measurement of the direction and magnitude of any one of the vectors may lead to small differences between your answers and the correct ones which are shown here. Do not have a cow.
1. 3.0 m/s, 45 deg + 5.0 m/s, 135 deg = 5.83 m/s, 104 deg (Note: the resultant is drawn in red.)
2. 5.0 m/s, 45 deg + 2.0 m/s, 180 deg = 3.85m/s, 66.5 deg (Note: the resultant is drawn in red.)
3. 6.0 m/s, 225 deg+ 2.0 m/s, 90 deg= 4.80 m/s, 207.9 deg (Note: the resultant is drawn in red.)
4. 4.0 m/s, 135 deg+ 4.0 m/s, 315 deg = 0 m/s (Note: the resultant is drawn in red.)
5. 5.0 m/s, 45 deg+ 2.5 m/s, 135 deg= 5.59 m/s, 71.6 deg (Note: the resultant is drawn in red.)
6. 7.0 m/s, 0 deg+ 2.0 m/s, 90 deg= 7.28 m/s, 15.9 deg (Note: the resultant is drawn in red.)
7. 8.0 m/s, 330 deg+ 4.0 m/s, 45 deg= 9.83m/s, 352.2 deg (Note: the resultant is drawn in red.)
8. 2.0 m/s, 150 deg+ 4.0 m/s, 225 deg= 4.91m/s, 201.8 deg (Note: the resultant is drawn in red.)
9. 3.0 m/s, 45 deg+ 5.0 m/s, 135 deg+ 2.0 m/s, 60 deg= 7.40m/s, 93.2 deg (Note: the resultant is drawn in red.)
10. 2.0 m/s, 315 deg+ 5.0 m/s, 180 deg+ 2.0 m/s, 60 deg= 2.61m/s, 173 deg (Note: the resultant is drawn in red.)
11. 4.0 m/s, 90 deg+ 2.0 m/s, 0 deg+ 2.0 m/s, 210 deg= 3.01 m/s, 84.9 deg (Note: the resultant is drawn in red.)
12. 2.5 m/s, 45 deg+ 5.0 m/s, 270 deg+ 5.0 m/s, 330 deg= 8.37 m/s, 316.8 deg (Note: the resultant is drawn in red.)
