Republic of the Philippines

NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY

Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ME 9-1S-2021-2022

College: Engineering
Campus: Bambang

DEGREE PROGRAM Bachelor of COURSE NO. ME 9

Science in
Mechanical
Engineering
SPECIALIZATION COURSE TITLE Machine Elements
YEAR LEVEL 3rd Year TIME FRAME 5 Hrs WK NO. 3 IM NO. 01

I. UNIT TITLE/CHAPTER TITLE

Vector operation in analytical and Graphical Method

II. LESSON TITLE

1. Resultant of Vector

2. Vector resolution

3. Vector manipulation

III. LESSON OVERVIEW

This lesson provides the students a review on the operation of vectors which will be used in the
next chapters.

IV. DESIRED LEARNING OUTCOMES

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Determine the sum of vectors using analytical and graphical method.
2. Determine along and perpendicular components of a vector using analytical and graphical method.
3. Determine the difference of vectors using analytical and graphical method.

V. LESSON CONTENT

1. Graphical Vector addition

Graphical addition is an operation that determines the net effect of vectors. A graphical approach
to vector addition involves drawing the vectors to scale and at the proper orientation. These vectors are
then relocated, maintaining the scale and orientation. The tail of the first vector is designated as the origin
(point O). The second vector is relocated so that its tail is placed on the tip of the first vector. The process
then is repeated for all remaining vectors. This technique is known as the tip-to-tail method of vector
addition. This name is derived from viewing a completed vector polygon. The tip of one vector runs into
the tail of the next.
The combined effect is the vector that extends from the tail of the first vector in the series to the
tip of the last vector in the series which is called the Resultant.

Example problem 1: Graphically determine the combined effect of velocity vectors A and B, as shown in
Figure 1.

Figure 1. Vector for Example problem 1.

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NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ME 9-1S-2021-2022

Solution:

1. Construct Vector Diagrams

To determine the resultant, the vectors must be relocated so that the tail of B is located at the tip
of A. To verify the commutative law, the vectors were redrawn so that the tail of A is placed at the
tip of B. The resultant is the vector drawn from the tail of the first vector, the origin, to the tip of
the second vector. Both vector diagrams are shown in Figure 2.

2. Measure the Resultant

The length vector R is measured as 66 in./s. The direction is also required to fully define vector
R. The angle from the horizontal to vector R is measured as 57°. Therefore, the proper manner
of presenting the solution is as follows:

Figure 2. The combined effect of vectors A and B for example problem 1.

Example problem 2: Graphically determine the combined effect of force vectors A, B, C, and D, as shown
in Figure 3.
Figure 3. Vectors for Example Problem 3.

1. Construct Vector Diagrams

To determine the resultant, the vectors must be relocated so that the tail of B is located at the tip
of A. Then the tail of C is placed on the tip of B. Finally, the tail of D is placed on the tip of C.
Again, the ordering of vectors is not important, and any combination could be used. As an
illustration, another arbitrary combination is used in this example. The resultant is the vector drawn
from the tail of the first vector, at the origin, to the tip of the fourth vector. The vector diagrams are
shown in Figure 4.

2. Measure the Resultant

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ME 9-1S-2021-2022
The length vector R is measured as 521 lb. The direction is also required to fully define the vector
R. The angle from the horizontal to vector R is measured as 68°. Therefore, the proper manner
of presenting the solution is as follows:

Figure 4. The combined effect of vectors A, B, C, and D for example problem 2.

2. Analytical Vector Addition

Two analytical methods can be used to determine the net effect of vectors. The first method is
best suited when the resultant of only two vectors is required. As with the graphical method, the two
vectors to be combined are placed tip-to-tail. The resultant is found by connecting the tail of the first
vector to the tip of the second vector. Thus, the resultant forms the third side of a triangle. In general, this
is an oblique triangle, and the laws of sines and cosines can be applied.

Example problem 3: Analytically determine the resultant of two acceleration vectors as shown.

1. Sketch a Rough Vector Diagram

The vectors are placed tip-to-tail as shown. Note that only a rough sketch is required because the
resultant is analytically determined.

2. Determine an Internal Angle

The angle between A and the horizontal is 20°. The angle between vectors A and B is:

3. Determine Resultant Magnitude

The law of cosines is used to find the magnitude of the resultant:

4. Determine Magnitude Direction

The law of sines can be used to find the angle between vectors A and R:

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NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ME 9-1S-2021-2022

5. Fully Specify Resultant

2.1. Components of a vector

The second method for analytically determining the resultant of vectors is best suited for problems
where more than two vectors are to be combined. This method involves resolving vectors into
perpendicular components. Resolution of a vector is the reverse of combining vectors. A single vector
can be broken into two separate vectors, along convenient directions. The two vector components have
the same effect as the original vector.

Example problem 4: A force, F, of 3.5 kN is shown below. Using the analytical triangle method, determine
the horizontal and vertical components of this force.

Solution:

1. Sketch the Vector Components

The horizontal vector (component) is drawn from the tail of vector F. A vertical vector (component) is
drawn from the horizontal vector to the tip of the original force vector.

2. Use Triangle Method

Working with the right triangle, an expression for both components can be written using trigonometric
functions:

2.2. Analytical vector addition: Component Method

This method involves resolving each individual vector into horizontal and vertical components. All
horizontal components may then be added into a single vector component. This component represents
the net horizontal effect of the series of vectors. It is worth noting that the component magnitudes can be
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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ME 9-1S-2021-2022
simply added together because they all lay in the same direction. These components are treated as
scalar quantities. A positive or negative sign is used to denote the sense of the component.

Example Problem 5. Three forces act on a hook as shown below. Using the analytical component method,
determine the net effect of these forces.

3. Vector subtraction

3.1. Graphical vector subtraction

As discussed, vector subtraction closely parallels vector addition. To graphically subtract vectors,
they are relocated to scale to form a tip-to-tip vector diagram. The specifics of the process are shown in
the following examples.

Example problem 6: Graphically determine the result of subtracting the velocity vector B from A, J = A –
B as shown in Figure 5.

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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ME 9-1S-2021-2022

Figure 5. Vectors for example problem 6.

Solution:

1. Construct the Vector Diagram

To determine the result, the vectors are located in the tip-to-tail form, but vector B points toward
vector A. Again, this occurs because B is being subtracted (opposite to addition). The vector
diagram is shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6. J = A – B for example problem 5.

2. Measure the Result

The resultant extends from the tail of A, the origin, to the tail of B. The length vector J is measured
as 56.8 in./s. The direction is also required to fully define the vector J. The angle from the
horizontal to vector J is measured as 99°. Therefore, the proper manner of presenting the solution
is as follows:

Example problem 7. Graphically determine the result, J = A - B - C + D, of the force vectors as shown in
Figure 7.

Figure 7. Vector for example problem 7.

Solution: 1. Construct the Vector Diagram

To determine the result, J = A – B – C + D, the vectors must be relocated tip-to-tail or tip-to-tip,

depending on whether they are added or subtracted. Vector B must be drawn pointing toward
vector A because B is being subtracted. A similar approach is taken with vector C. The tail of
vector D is then placed on the tail of C because D is to be added to the series of previously
assembled vectors. The completed vector diagram is shown in Figure 8.

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the copyrighted works included in this material may be reproduced for educational
purposes only and not for commercial distribution”
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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ME 9-1S-2021-2022

Figure 8. Result of example problem 8.

3.2. Analytical Vector Subtraction

As in analytically adding vectors, the triangle method is best suited for manipulation of only two
vectors. A vector diagram should be sketched using the logic as described in the previous section. Then
the triangle laws can be used to determine the result of vector subtraction. This general method is
illustrated through the following example problem.

Example problem 8. Analytically determine the result of the vectors J = A - B shown below.

Solution:

Sketch a Rough Vector Diagram

Vector B is placed pointing toward vector A because it is to be subtracted. Also note that only a rough
sketch is required because the resultant is analytically determined.

Determine the Magnitude of the Result

The law of cosines is used to find the magnitude of the resultant.

3.2.1. Analytical Vector Subtraction: Component Method

The component method can be best used to analytically determine the result of the subtraction of
a series of vectors. This is done in the same manner as vector addition.

Example Problem 9. Analytically determine the result J = A -7 B +7 C +7 D for the velocity vectors shown.

Solution:
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the copyrighted works included in this material may be reproduced for educational
purposes only and not for commercial distribution”
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NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ME 9-1S-2021-2022

Use x-axis, Angle Method to Determine Components

Determine the Components of the Solution

Combine the Components of the Solution

VI. LEARNING ACTIVITIES

Problem solving

Directions: Solve the following problems using graphical method. Show your complete solution.

1. For the vectors shown in Figure 10, determine the resultant, R = A + B + C.

Figure 10. Problem 2.

2. For the vectors shown in Figure 10, determine the vectors, J = A - B + C and K = C – B – A.

VII. EVALUATION (Note: Not to be included in the student’s copy of the IM)

I. ONLINE ASSIGNMENTS

II. ONLINE QUIZZES

VIII. ASSIGNMENT
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the copyrighted works included in this material may be reproduced for educational
purposes only and not for commercial distribution”
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 Republic of the Philippines
NUEVA VIZCAYA STATE UNIVERSITY
Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya

INSTRUCTIONAL MODULE
IM No.: ME 9-1S-2021-2022

Directions: Solve the problem using analytical method. Show your complete solution.

1. For the vectors shown in Figure 10, determine the vectors, J = A - B + C and K = C – B – A.

IX. REFERENCES

A. Book/Printed Resources

David H. Myszka (2012). Machine and Mechanisms (4th Ed.). New Jearsey: Pearson Education Inc.

B. e-Resources/ e-Book

https://ocw.mit.edu/search/ocwsearch.htm?q=vectors
http://ww7.learnerstv.com/

Disclaimer: This document does not claim any originality and cannot be used as a substitute for prescribed
textbooks. This information presented here is merely a collection by the faculty member for his respective
teaching assignments. Various sources as mentioned at the end of the document as well as freely available
material from the internet were consulted for preparing this document. The ownership of the information lies
with the respective authors or institutions. Further, this document is not intended to be used for commercial
purpose and the faculty member is not accountable for any issues, legal or otherwise, arising out of use of
this document. The faculty member makes no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or
completeness of the contents of this document and specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchant
ability or fitness for a particular purpose.

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the copyrighted works included in this material may be reproduced for educational
purposes only and not for commercial distribution”
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