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Addition of Displacement Vectors

Overhead transparencies, white paper, self-propelled car, overhead markers

Concept Overview:

1. The idea of vector representation of directed quantities (e.g. displacement) and their addition.

Lecturer Procedure

Step(s) to FollowExpected Result

1. Tape the notebook paper to the document camera.

2. Mark an "x" with the overhead marker as shown:

An "x" on white paper

3. Place the transparency over the notebook paper.

4. Trace the 'x' onto the transparency with a different color.

An "x" on an overhead transparency, laid on top of the white paper

5. Pull back the car.

6. Place the right rear wheel of the car on the 'x'

Right rear wheel of car placed on top of x

7. Release car at the same time that you have pulled back on the overhead transparency

8. Stop car before it reaches the end of the paper.

9. Place an 'x' on the paper beneath the rear right wheel of the car

Ending position of vehicle after motion and removal of transparency.

10. Connect the first x on the transparency to the one on the page by making an arrow.

11. Do the same for the two x's on the paper

Lines drawn to show motion of transparency and motion of car

Alternately, this can be done with large paper on the lecture bench as shown in the photo below:

Dr. Percy Carr modeling an alternative method using a larger car and a large sheet of butcher paper

Transcript

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Identifier
M: K - 001