Graphical Addition of Vectors (Polygon Method)

Note: Whenever you see A, B, C or R in a sentence that means I am referring to the symbols below

This method for finding the resultant R of several vectors

(A, B, C consists in the beginning at any convenient point and drawing (to scale and in the proper directions) each vector arrow in turn. They may be taken in order of succession.

The tail end of each arrow is positioned at the tip end of the preceding one, as shown below.

The resultant is represented by an arrow with its tail end at the starting point and its tip end at the tip of the last vector added. If R is the resultant, R = |R| is the size or magnitude of the resultant.