Adding vectors given just the magnitude

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    Magnitude Vectors
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Homework Help Overview

The problem involves adding vectors based solely on their magnitudes, with a focus on understanding the relationships between the vectors and the implications of their angles. The context suggests a challenge in determining the resultant vector without explicit angle information.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the validity of using the Pythagorean theorem for vector addition and question whether estimating angles is necessary for ranking the vectors. Some express concerns about the clarity of the problem statement.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of the problem. There is a suggestion to use a protractor for angle estimation, indicating a potential direction for resolving the ambiguity. However, no consensus has been reached regarding the expectations of the test.

Contextual Notes

Participants note the lack of angle information provided in the problem, which complicates the ability to accurately rank the vectors. The discussion reflects uncertainty about the requirements of the test question.

mrknowknow
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Homework Statement



The problem is attached

Homework Equations



sqrt(a^2+b^2)

The Attempt at a Solution


I used the equations above to calculate the resultant but apparently it wasn't right.
 

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It's a very poor question. Clearly some are equal, so there's no right way to fill those in. Others you cannot rank without making an estimate of the angle between the vectors from the diagram, so I suggest you do exactly that - get the protractor out. By eye, I'd say |B| > |A-B|, but it's a close call.
 
But this was on a test so do you think we were suppose to estimate the angle between the two?
 
mrknowknow said:
But this was on a test so do you think we were suppose to estimate the angle between the two?
If you were not given the angle then I see no alternative.
 

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