Paralleogram method

Parallelogram method for vector addition

1 Choose an appropriate scale (e.g., 10 units [U] = 1 cm).
2 Draw a vertical reference line. (For reference orientation and angle measure)
3 Place a point of application (PA) on the reference line.
4 Draw the first component to scale with its tail at the point of application.
5 Draw the second component to scale with its tail at the point of application.
6 Construct a parallelogram with the two components as adjacent sides.
7 Draw the resultant as the diagonal of the parallelogram pointing away from the PA.
8 Measure the length of the resultant line and use the scale to determine the magnitude.
9 Determine the direction of the resultant using the vertical reference line and the PA at the vertex of the angle

Example: Add: 50 U at 20°+70 U at 140°


REF http://homepage.mac.com/dtrapp/ePhysics.f/WDvectors.html