Physics: 3-Way Tug o' War

Objectives

• Students will explore a simulation of static forces.
• Students will find vector components.
• Students will find resultant and equilibrant force vectors.

Vocabulary

• compression
• equilibrant
• resultant
• statics
• tension
• vector component

About the Lesson

This lesson simulates a 3-way tug o' war where students supply a third equilibrant force to balance two other forces. This will take place on a compass direction system. As a result, students will:

• Compare Cartesian (x,y) and compass (N,E) direction systems.
• Determine vector components in a compass system.
• Find resultant and equilibrant vectors.
• Solve a set of 3-way tug o' war problems by determining and setting an equilibrant to two other forces, and then checking their answer.