Vector Addition: The Order Does NOT Matter
The question often arises as to the importance of the order in which the vectors are added.
For instance, if five vectors are added - let's call them vectors - then will a different resultant be obtained if a different order of addition is used.
Will yield the same result as ?
The animation below provides the answer.
As shown in the animation above, the order in which two or more vectors are added does not effect the outcome.
Adding yields the same result as .
- The resultant vector, shown as the red vector, has the same magnitude and direction regardless of the order in which the five individual vectors are added.