On a separate piece of paper, add the vector components of Force A and Force B to determine the magnitude of the equilibrant. Use trigonometry to find the direction (remember, the equilibrant is exactly opposite in direction to the resultant). Record the results in Table 1.
Graphical Method
On a separate piece of paper, construct a tail-to-head diagram of the vectors of Force A and Force B. Use a metric rule and protractor to measure the magnitude and direction of the resultant. Record the results in Table 1. Remember to record the direction of the equilibrant, which is opposite in direction to the resultant.
- How do the theoretical values for the magnitude and direction of the equilibrant compare to the actual magnitude and direction?
Table 1 Results of the Three Methods of Vector Addition
Method | Equilibrant (FE)
Magnitude | Direction (θ)
Experiment:
Component: Rx = ____, Ry = ____
Graphical: