PGP+Vectors

-- Jeff Lawlis
 * Graphical Analysis of Vectors Lab** - [[file:GraphicalVectorLab.docx]] This lab is designed for an 80 minute block. Included are 11 graphs of the parabolic trajectory of a baseball struck on different planets or moons. Students must use a parallel glider (Alvin is a good brand) to construct position vectors, displacement vectors and acceleration vectors using graphical techniques. They can determine the acceleration of their particular planet/moon by measuring the length of the acceleration vector (see instructions for details). I always put protractors on the table, which students instinctively use to measure the initial angle. (This won't work of course because the x and y scales are different -- using a tangent line and trigonometry is the suggested option.) Some planets are difficult to tell apart because their gravitational accelerations are close. Contact me if you have questions.


 * Resolution of Vector Components** - [[file:Resolution of Vector Components - Burns.doc]] Created by Dan Burns and uploaded by Bill Taylor

~ Dan Hosey
 * Adjustable Vector Problems** -(Adjustable Vector Problems .xls) This spreadsheet allows you to create vector addition problems with up to 6 vectors including the solutions. I like to use this to generate problems for practice and jigsaw activities. A chart showing the calculation of components for each problem is included.

- Joe Morin
 * Vector Addition (Tail to Tip)** - Click on Vector Addition to see a SmartBoard video demonstration of vector addition.

-Brittany Reed
 * Vector Treasure Hunt**: **[[file:prettygoodphysics/Vector Treasure Hunt.doc|Vector Treasure Hunt.doc]]** I use this lab with my class after introducing graphical and algebraic addition of vectors. The students are given a map of campus, and draw three vectors from the starting point (our classroom) to another location on campus where they will hide a "treasure" for a classmate to find. They then write out the vector magnitude and directions on a separate sheet of paper. This is passed to a second group of students who then have to break the vectors down into x and y components and add them algebraically to determine where they will find their hidden treasure.

//with inspiration from Trey Armistead//
 * Vector Pirate Map Activity** - [[file:displacement vector lab (pirates).doc]] is the lab I use to introduce the concept of vectors via displacement. I designed it to work on a football field because I figure most schools have those. The file is 31 pages long, containing 15 "unique" sets of directions (if you print 2-sided, each group gets a set of directions, and a map to plot out their path on the back). The students work in groups of two to map walk off the various components. The lab is intended to introduce vectors, the commutative property of vector addition and tip-to-tail vector addition. We actually go out to the field for this, but the map is scaled (1 cm = 5 paces) so you could do it directly on the sheet in case of rain.- //created by Matt Harding//


 * Vector to Office Lab** - [[file:Vector to Office Lab UPDATED.doc]]This lab is used to introduce right-angled vector addition by calculating the displacement between two specific points in the High School. It is a one-period activity with stem & leaf and box-plotting data analysis. You may want to substitute calculating a class average for the stem/leaf and box-plots. - //created by Joan Drobnak//


 * River Lab** - Students use an online simualtion of a boat crossing a river to learn about vector addition and relative velocity. The final task is solving for the direction to head to end up going straight across a flowing river. Make sure you verify the simulation runs on your computers:

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- Dan Burns


 * River Lab with HTML5 simulation** - I modified Dan Burns' Relative Velocity and Vector Addition Lab to use with Frank McCulley's new HTML5 River Crossing simulation. -Valerie Risk


 * PhET Vector Addition Sim Student Activity** - I downloaded this from the teacher posted activities and modified it a little. Takes students about 35-40 minutes. - Dan Burns[[file:VirtualVectorPhET.doc]]