Objectives

• Measurements in reading scales
• Considerations of experimental uncertainties
• Analysis of vector addition by components (using trig) and by graphical construction

Introduction

Vectors (and vector spaces) is a mathematical concept that has certain properties (primarily related to the two operation of scalar multiplication and vector addition). In Physics we find physical quantities that can be described in terms of magnitude and direction can be represented with a vector.

When a system of forces, all of which pass through the same point, acts on a body, they may be replaced by a single force call a resultant. When the body is in equilibrium the resultant force is zero. Force having both magnitude and direction can be represented by a vector.

This lab uses a force table to investigate vector addition. A number of forces of various magnitudes and directions are applied through strings to a central point. The individual strings indicate the force vector direction while force scales measure magnitude. Analysis of recorded vector directions and magnitudes will look at how closely the resultant force vector is zero (as expected from equilibrium).

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