Adding and Subtracting Vectors

The vectors are fixed in size and direction, but can be moved by dragging the circles at their tails

It is not at all easy to label vectors with an arrow over the letter (V1 etc.) in this animation. Remember that hand-written vectors should have the arrow to signify that they are vectors.

Vectors V1 (red) and V2 (green) are shown.

(a) arrange the vectors to find the sum, V1 + V2. Which of the other vectors (purple) represents the sum?

(b) arrange the vectors to find the difference, V1 - V2. Which of the purple vectors represents this difference?

(c) arrange the vectors to find the difference, V2 - V1. Which of the purple vectors represents this difference?

(d) Do any of your answers depend on the choice of an x-y coordinate system?

Reinitialize

Problem © 2003 by Vern Lindberg (RIT) using Wolfgang Christian's Physlets.