Forces & Force Vectors

Force Vectors: Force vectors are a different way of measuring distances.
1. The picture to the right depicts a force vector. Force vectors are drawn like arrows, from a starting point, to an ending point. The length and direction of the vector matter - force vector drawings have to be to scale or they are incorrect.
  1. A Force Vector may represent anything that has magnitude (size) and direction. In order to represent a force as a vector, you draw an arrow with the length proportional to the force (eg 1cm = 10N) and the direction the same as the actual direction of the force. For example, in the picture of the force vector to the right, there is depicted a force of 30N acting at an angle of 45 Degrees, so you could draw a 3cm long line at a 45 Degree angle.
Non-Concurrent Coplanar Forces: This means that all the forces acting on an object are acting in different directions but all on the same plane:
Concurrent forces: this means that all of the forces on an object are acting on one point as shown in the picture below: (All of the forces are acting directly inwards and towards the center of the cube.)
Coplanar Forces: This means that all of the forces acting on an object are on the same plane.

Resource summary

	Created by Joe Kirkup about 9 years ago