Vector Addition, and Drawing Patterns

This simulation illustrates the tail-to-tip method of adding vectors.

The bottom right corner shows the components and lengths of the vectors.

You can also rotate the vectors and trace out some interesting patterns.

Activities

Given the magnitude and angles of the two vectors, do you agree with the values shown for the components of the three vectors in the table at the bottom? Explain how the components are determined.

For a given pair of vectors, how do you find the maximum possible magnitude of their resultant vector? How do you determine the minimum possible magnitude?

By changing the orientation of one or both of the vectors, can you obtain a resultant vector with any magnitude between the minimum and maximum value

Adjust the lengths of the two vectors and their rotation rates, and then hit Play. See what kind of interesting patterns you can make, just by adding vectors.