Scale drawing
What Scale drawing means in Physics A-Level, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of Scale drawing
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Reference: AQA
A method for non-perpendicular vectors: choose a scale, draw each vector tip-to-tail at the correct angle, then measure the resultant length and direction.
A method of finding a resultant by drawing vectors to a chosen scale, such as 1 cm = 2 N, and measuring the line from start to finish.
A stated scale allows the resultant's magnitude to be found by measuring the closing side, with its angle measured using a protractor.
Topics that use Scale drawing
- Scalars and vectors (AQA A-Level)
- Scalars and vectors (OCR A-Level)
Related terms
- Perpendicular components
- Coplanar forces at a point
- Displacement
- Equilibrium
- Equilibrium conditions
- Free-body diagrams
- Independence of perpendicular directions
- Magnitude and direction of a resultant
Using Scale drawing in the exam
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