Lesson Plan

Describe the graphical (head-to-tail) method of vector addition and subtraction

Use a ruler and protractor to add vectors to scale and measure the resultant's magnitude and direction

Find the negative of a vector and subtract vectors graphically

Apply the head-to-tail method to physics problems involving force and velocity

Use the Pythagorean theorem to find the magnitude of a resultant when the added vectors are perpendicular

5.1

"The head-to-tail method is a graphical way to add vectors. The tail of the vector is the starting point of the vector, and the head (or tip) of a vector is the pointed end of the arrow." "Vector subtraction is done in the same way as vector addition with one small change. We add the first vector to the negative of the vector that needs to be subtracted. A negative vector has the same magnitude as the original vector, but points in the opposite direction." "Addition of vectors is independent of the order in which they are added; A + B = B + A."