Mechanics 1

Vector Addition

• Scale Diagram:
• -Join all forces together into a polygon
• -The line to finish the shape is the resultant
• -Close polygon means no resultant
• -Add arrows showing the direction of the force
• Parallelogram of Forces:
• -Only used with two forces
• -Make polygon using the forces as sides
• -Draw a line through the middle, which is the resultant
• Vectors at Right Angles:
• -Use Pythaogoras to find resultant
• 
• Caption: Scale Diagram

Resolving Forces

• -We split one vector into two - diagonal into horizontal and vertical
• -Represented as two vectors: Fv (vertical) and Fh (horizontal)
• The point of it:
• -Vertical forces have no effect horizontally
• -Horizontal forces have no effect vertically
• -So we consider them seperately if split
• -Use trigonometry