Topic · 3 games

Vectors: direction matters

A vector has a size and a direction. These games show when quantities add like numbers and when they add tip to tail.

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3 games

PLAY NOW · 17

River Crossing: Beat the Current

Steer a boat across a flowing river. Discover why aiming straight across lands you downstream, and find the heading that cancels the current.

Vector additionRelative velocity
Play River Crossing
Ground velocity
v = v_b + v_w
Straight across
s · sin θ = u

PLAY NOW · 18

Orienteering Walk: Find the Shortcut

Follow a compass route leg by leg. Watch the distance walked keep growing while the displacement can shrink back to zero, then predict the shortcut.

Scalars and vectorsDisplacement
Play Orienteering Walk
Displacement
Δr = r₁ + r₂ + …
Distance
s = Σ|rᵢ| ≥ |Δr|

PLAY NOW · 19

Force Table: Balance the Ring

Balance a ring pulled by strings at different angles. Discover why 3 N and 4 N need exactly 5 N to cancel, and why only the vector sum matters.

Vector sumEquilibrium
Play Force Table
Equilibrium
ΣF = 0
Sizes
|F₁ + F₂| ≤ |F₁| + |F₂|

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