Agustin Maglione

Toufik Nadji

April 16, 2020

Physics Lab 08

Task 1:

a) Explain why this vector could also represent traveling at 20 mph in the north
direction.

The vector could show that walking 20 steps north could be graphed the same as traveling 20
mph. The value 20 stays the same. The only thing that changes is the unit. This makes no
difference in the graph since we always maintain the same unit for all the vectors.

1. b) Next, you turn left and walk 10 steps to the west. Add the two vectors using the
“sum” button. How far from where you started did you end up?

If you walk 20 steps north and then 10 steps west. You will be 22.6 steps away from where you
started at an angle of 116.6 degrees. See graph 1.

Graph 1:
 C) In math, 2+3=3+2. What is this property called? Does this property hold for vector
addition? Try it with the scenario above by first walking 10 steps west and then
walking 20 steps north. Compare the result to the sum in part b).

The property is called “commutative property of addition” and means that two real numbers can
be added in any order without changing the sum. For example, 6 + 5 = 5 + 6.
Graph 2.

As we can see for graph 2 and 1, where we first walk 10 steps to the west and then 20 steps
north, the ​“commutative property of addition” holds for vectors too.
Task 2:
Carry out the following within the vector PheT simulation.
You are going for a drive, but a detour takes you out of the way of your destination. You
drive north for 10 miles, turn right and drive east for 5 miles, turn to the north and drive
for 3 miles, drive west for 10 miles, and arrive at your destination.
a) How far from where you started did you end up?
As you can see in graph 3, after walking 10 miles north, 5 miles east, 3 miles north and 10 miles
west you end up: 13.9 miles from where you started at an angle of 111 degrees.
Graph 3:

b) If you wanted to travel directly to your destination without following the streets (“as
the crow flies”), what angle would you take? What direction would a compass read?
You would take an angle of 111​0 ​(from where you started). If you are looking to a compass will
read 349​0​ N.
See picture below:
c) Now try adding the vectors in a different order. For example, start with the 5 miles east,
then 3 miles north, etc., as long as you add all four vectors. Compare the result to the sum
in part a). Draw the vectors in the order you used.

I add the vectors in a different order, first 3 miles north, then 10 miles west then 10 miles north
and finally 5 miles east. As we can see in graph 4, the result is equal to the result in part A,
which holds with the ​“commutative property of addition”.

Graph 4:
Task 3​:
Carry out the following within the vector PheT simulation.
You are flying a hang glider at 14 mph in the northeast direction (45°). The wind is blowing
at 4 mph from due north.
a) What is your airspeed?
The airspeed is the sum of the hang glider plus the wind. From graph 5 assuming 14.1mph given
the PheT don’t allow 14 we have an airspeed of 18.0
Graph 5

b) What angle (direction) are you flying?

He is flying at an angle of 56.3​0​ what in a compass will read 33.7​0​ NE
c) The wind increases to 14 mph from the north. Now what is your airspeed and what
direction are you flying? If your destination is to the northeast, how would you
change your speed or direction so you might make it there? Test your answer using
the PheT sim.
Assuming that the wind is still due north at 14mph we can say, from graph 6 that the airspeed
now is: 26mph and in a angle of 67.4​0​ or as read in a compass: 22.6 N
Graph 6:

To make it to the NE I would change my trajectory to the 90​0​ to the east so it will end up going
45​0​ NE as we wish without changing the speed

See graph 7.

Graph 7:
Task 4:

Which of the following are vector quantities and which are scalars: mass, weight, velocity,
speed, force, friction, displacement, length, time, acceleration, temperature?

Vector Quantities has a direction and a magnitude, scalars has only a magnitude

Vector Quantities:
Force
Velocity
Acceleration
Displacement

Scalar:
Mass
Weight
Speed
Friction
Length
Time
Temperature

In ION report your numerical results from Tasks 1-3, summarize your observations and
answer the given questions, and write down your reflections on what you have learned
from this virtual lab activity and how you would use this knowledge in your own area of
expertise or to apply the findings in real life situations in general.

Through this virtual Activity, I have learned that the order in which you add the vectors
up doesn't matter. It will always give you the same result. This is because addition is
commutative.
This applies to real life because when you are trying to go from Point A to Point B, you
need to calculate what route would be the fastest.
This applies to theatre because when you are blocking a scene, as an actor you are
walking in vectors. You need to calculate in what angle you are going to walk so that you are
seen by the audience members. You also need to calculate how much time it will take you to get
from point A to point B.