The discussion centers on whether two vectors, specifically forces, can be added when they are not acting simultaneously. Participants explore the implications of vector addition in different contexts, including forces and displacements, and the relevance of direction in these scenarios.
Participants generally disagree on whether forces can be added when not acting simultaneously, with multiple competing views on the role of direction and the context of application remaining unresolved.
There are limitations in the discussion regarding the assumptions about time intervals between forces and the definitions of simultaneous actions. The varying interpretations of vector addition in different contexts contribute to the complexity of the discussion.
That depends on how you are using the vectors. If a person moves from A to B and then from B to C, you can add two motion vectors AB and BC to get the total motion vector AC. But force doesn't work that way.prashant singh said:I think this question doesn't makes any sense because vector algebra is applied for simooultaneous vectors(here force). I think direction doesn't matters but u can take both in same direction.
The magnitudes of the forces add like this only if the forces are acting in the same direction.prashant singh said:Suppose if I applied a 4N force and then 2N force on an object , what will be total force. Note I didn't said simoultaneously, I mean one after the other, then what will be the total force , I think 6N
Of course the direction matters.prashant singh said:I think direction doesn't matters but u can take both in same direction.
Mark44 said:The magnitudes of the forces add like this only if the forces are acting in the same direction.
Of course the direction matters.
Also, "textspeak" such as "u" for "you" is not allowed at this site.
FactChecker said:That depends on how you are using the vectors. If a person moves from A to B and then from B to C, you can add two motion vectors AB and BC to get the total motion vector AC. But force doesn't work that way.
I don't think that makes sense. If you have some object that is moving along a path, and you apply a force to it, that force could cause the object to change direction (or not, all depending on the direction of the force and the direction the object is moving). If later a different force is applied, then that could cause a different resulting direction for the object. To the best of my knowledge, you don't add vectors that aren't acting simultaneously (simoultaneously is not a word).prashant singh said:Can we add two vectors which are not acting simoultaneously by the vector law of addition.
Mark44 said:I don't think that makes sense. If you have some object that is moving along a path, and you apply a force to it, that force could cause the object to change direction (or not, all depending on the direction of the force and the direction the object is moving). If later a different force is applied, then that could cause a different resulting direction for the object. To the best of my knowledge, you don't add vectors that aren't acting simultaneously (simoultaneously is not a word).
Also, if the two forces are applied at different times (i.e., not simultaneously), how much time elapses between the times of the two forces? One second, one hour, one week, ten years?
You can if it makes sense for the context of the situation . For instance a displacement of 3km due north followed by a displacement of 4km due east. Those displacement vectors can be added to give the overall displacement.prashant singh said:Can we add two vectors which are not acting simoultaneously by the vector law of addition.