Sunday, October 16, 2016

Vectors

I feel extremely behind in physics especially with vectors because I've missed 2 classes where we have talked about them. I have only been present for the class where it took 50 minutes to answer one problem. This is definitely something I need to spend extra time on, I've done only 2 problems of this and missed extra class discussion.
I am going to watch a video explaining.
Before video: A vector shows direction in which something moves

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/one-dimensional-motion/displacement-velocity-time/v/introduction-to-vectors-and-scalars

So my idea of a vector was basically correct. So a vector is direction with a size (or magnitude but we haven't used that word in class yet). So if an object moves 15 meters to the right this a vector quantity. I feel like its fair to say, you can group displacement, velocity, and vectors all in the same category. The video also touched on scalar quantities, which I am unsure of if we touched in class. Scalar quantities would be just the distance traveled without the direction. So you can group distance, speed, and scalar quantities together. 
From class the one day I was here we used the pythagoreum theorum and sin/cos/tan to find vectors. I definitely need to do some practice problems from the packet we've done, because I don't have enough experience with this to feel comfortable. I feel like I understand the concept, it's just practicing ways mathematically to figure it out.

Looking at vectors a few weeks down the line<It's easier to grasp. I think what had confused me before was the idea of changing the axis, but this works when trying to solve problems with diagnol vectors. It took me awhile to understand this, I even had to go in for a lunch session, but I think now it is fairly straightforward. 

2 comments:

  1. I'm available at lunch for help! I also am around school for at least a half hour every day.... just sayin'!

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  2. It must be difficult reflecting back on something that you missed class for. However, you still did a good job reflecting with what you at least knew. If you want help, you can always ask anyone in class! After grasping a deeper understanding on vectors, come back to your blog and add in what you learned and reflect again. This will be a great source for review later on!

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