Physics is your big chance to show off your inner artist by drawing what you see through a scientists eyes in a special way so others can understand your big ideas. We're going to practice making models in our mind of what's going on in the real world, and learning how to write it down on paper using the language of mathematics so you can communicate with others and work together designing your inventions and predicting what might happen next. All scientists, engineers, technicians, including folks like Feynman and Einstein, learned how to represent the real world on paper in a visual way using diagrams. (Although Nobel prize winner Dr. Richard Feynman got frustrated and invented his own diagrams, which we still use today in quantum mechanics.)

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17 Responses to “Vector Diagrams”

  1. pinkgreen3 says:

    that is fun great experiment thank you!!!!!

  3. ritasjohnson says:

    We are also looking for the solutions to the questions about the frog. Thank you

  4. Don’t worry, these concepts can be difficult to understand at first, but they’ll make sense as you watch more videos.

    When an object has velocity, that object is moving. But, keep in mind that velocity is speed with direction. A vector shows us the direction an object is travelling (by the direction the arrow is pointing) and it shows us the rate of travel (represented by the length of the arrow). So the longer the arrow, the faster the object is travelling.

    Acceleration is a change is rate of travel or a change in direction.

    So, if an object changes direction, the vector arrow will also point in that new direction. If an object starts going faster, the vector arrow will increase in length. If an object slows down, the vector arrow will decrease length. All three of these are examples of acceleration.

    Vectors are like points on a graph. When I launch a rocket in the air, I can plot the vectors of travel as a positive velocity (going up). When the rocket passes apogee and begins to fall, the velocity changes direction. Since it is now going to opposite direction, it now has a negative velocity (going down).

  5. trwhitman says:

    Hello Mrs. Aurora. I am having trouble understanding how to determine the direction of the acceleration vector. What is the difference between the velocity and the motion. What makes the velocity positive or negative and the motion positive or negative. How do they show what the direction of the acceleration is. I simply could not seem to understand the concepts by watching the video. What am I missing? Thank you.

  7. jill_sams says:

    Where can I find the solutions to the problem set found before graphing and after the pop rockets? (The questions on the frog?) The packet I downloaded has answers for other problems and written out solutions for other problems, but nothing for these. Thanks

  9. jennifermodlin says:

    And how could i send my work to you?

  10. jennifermodlin says:

    Sorry Mrs. Aurora, I just found a work sheet you sent to a student in one of the comments to help me with the pop rocket equation. Is there a way that I could send in the pop rocket work to you? I just want to make sure I’m doing them right.

  11. Yes, which equations specifically are you looking for? Projectile motion? F-ma?

  12. jennifermodlin says:

    Do you have a video on how to work out the equations?

  13. So I was doing the pop rockets experiment and in the sheets i told me to find the max height of my rocket, using a 2-D kinematic equation. I am only in the 1-D kinematics. Is there a place you can direct me so I know how to do this equation and I can complete the experiment. Thanks

  14. My guess is that you had different amounts of each chemical in there the 6th time and you observed the (different) result.

  15. schaefer_71 says:

    my container flew 5 times but the 6th it exploded… could baking soda and vinegar have been more powerful?

  17. Cheryl McDavid says:

    Are there any worksheets or test that come with this?