Dot to Dot
Displacement Vector Lab
The purpose of this experiment is to determine the displacement from one position, a red dot in room 203
to another position, a red dot in the frame of a window to the west of the north exit door in the practical
arts wing of the ground floor. Since there are walls and floors between the positions, the displacement
must be determined through an indirect route.
You will follow route indicated on the map assigned to your group to get from the red dot in room 203 to
the red dot on the ground floor. You should assume that the school is laid out so that each wall in its
rectangular rooms faces north, south, east, or west. You should also assume that the majority of the floor
tiles run parallel to a north-south line or an east-west line.
In your data table, you will record each of the individual displacement vectors which add up to constitute
your trip between the red dots. You should endeavor to make each individual displacement vector lie
exclusively along a north-south, east-west, or up-down line. You are required to not only record the
magnitude and direction of each individual component vector, but also to record a brief written
description of the movement that is represented by the vector. For example, your first recorded
components vector might be recorded as “From the red dot in 203 down to the counter top.” The
magnitude and direction vector would be recorded in the up-down column, and the description would be
recorded in its appropriate column.
It is critical that you pay very close attention to the accurate recording of the direction of each vector.
Properly describing each vector in the description column will make it much easier to troubleshoot your
measurements if you discover a problem when you begin your calculations. Each individual component
vector will be recorded in its respective column, with only one vector recorded per row. Once you have
recorded the final component vector as you arrive at the red dot in the iMac lab window frame, you will
add the vectors in each of the columns to determine your net displacement components in the northsouth, east-west, and up-down directions.
Once you have determined each of the net displacement components, you will add them (vectorally) to
determine the resultant displacement vector. This displacement should be expressed as a range (a
distance in meters) and azimuth angle (an acute angle between two adjacent compass directions) and an
elevation angle (an angle above or below the horizontal plane).
Your lab report should include the data table with annotations for each section of the path, the map, and
two 2-dimensional vector diagrams and one 3-dimensional vector diagram. The diagrams should be
appropriately color coded as discussed in class.
The following should be included in your lab report:
1. A statement of the purpose of the experiment.
2. Your map.
3. Your data table with one entry per row and a written description of each individual motion.
4. One 3-dimensional and two 2-dimensional drawings of the net displacement vectors,
appropriately color-coded.
5. All calculations that result in an expression of the resultant displacement as a range, azimuth and
elevation.
6. Error calculations for vertical displacement, north/south displacement, east/west displacement,
range, azimuth, and elevation. (Six total)
7. A conclusion that explains why it is reasonable to expect every group to get very close to the
same answer for this displacement.
Dot to Dot - Displacement Vector Lab - Data Table
Lab Group Members:
Sign Conventions
North
East
Up
South
West
Down
N-S
(m)
E-W
(m)
U-D
(m)
Map Route:
Description of Movement
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