ACTIVITY 1.1
VECTORS: MODULE AND DIRECTION

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A vector is an orientated segment.

Two things characterize a vector:

1) Length of the segment. In mathematics this length is usually called modulus.

2) Direction given by the oriented straight that goes by him, or by any parallel oriented straight.

A vector does not have a defined location . A vector can go to any place of the plane without modifying neither his module, nor his direction. By this reason, it is said that vectors are free.

We express a vector with a minuscule letter, we express the origin and the end of a vector with two capital letters. For example, indicates the vector which has origin in the point P and end in the point Q.

Whenever it was possible, we will put an arrow above to indicate that an object is a vector:,,, ...

Vectors are good for representing geometric and physical magnitudes that have modulus and direction, as translations, velocity and forces.

 

 

 

INTERACTIVE ACTIVITY

The thing to determine a vector is his modulus and his direction, two vectors are equal if they have the same modulus and the same direction.

For instance, all the black colour vectors of the figure vectors are equals

You can make click on the green points P and Q, move them keeping the click, and obtain other groups of equal vectors.

On the other hand, the lilac vector, that has opposite direction, is not equal to the black vectors, it is the opposite vector .


SOLUTION (Animation)

HOMEWORK
(Do you want a Word document prepared for making this work?)


Look for and consult in several dictionaries and encyclopedias other meanings of the word vector. Write the conclusions in your notebook.


END OF ACTIVITY 1.1
VECTORS: MODULE AND DIRECTION

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