PhET Simulation: Vector Addition

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published by the PhET

In this applet the user can learn how to add vectors by dragging vectors onto a graph, changing their length and angle, and summing them together. The magnitude, angle, and components of each vector can be displayed in several formats. Teaching ideas and activities are included. The direct link to the simulation is given as a mirror URL.

This is part of a larger collection developed by the Physics Education Technology project (PhET).

Please note that this resource requires at least version 8 of Flash.

https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/vector-addition

Subjects	Levels	Resource Types
Mathematical Tools - Vector Algebra	- Lower Undergraduate - High School - Informal Education	- Instructional Material = Activity = Interactive Simulation - Audio/Visual = Movie/Animation

Intended Users	Formats	Ratings
- Learners - Educators	- text/html - application/flash	Currently 0.0/5 Want to rate this material? Login here!

Mirror:: https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/ve…
Access Rights:: Free access
Restriction:: © 2007 PhET and University of Colorado
Additional information is available.
Keywords:: angle, vector addition, vector components, vectors
Record Cloner:: Metadata instance created November 16, 2007 by Alea Smith
Record Updated:: February 22, 2025 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update when Cataloged:: October 1, 2008

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Record Link

<a href="https://www.compadre.org/introphys/items/detail.cfm?ID=6118">PhET. PhET Simulation: Vector Addition. Boulder: PhET, October 1, 2008.</a>

AIP Format

(PhET, Boulder, 2007), WWW Document, (https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/vector-addition).

AJP/PRST-PER

PhET Simulation: Vector Addition (PhET, Boulder, 2007), <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/vector-addition>.

APA Format

PhET Simulation: Vector Addition. (2008, October 1). Retrieved February 12, 2026, from PhET: https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/vector-addition

Chicago Format

PhET. PhET Simulation: Vector Addition. Boulder: PhET, October 1, 2008. https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/vector-addition (accessed 12 February 2026).

MLA Format

PhET Simulation: Vector Addition. Boulder: PhET, 2007. 1 Oct. 2008. 12 Feb. 2026 <https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/vector-addition>.

BibTeX Export Format

@misc{ Title = {PhET Simulation: Vector Addition}, Publisher = {PhET}, Volume = {2026}, Number = {12 February 2026}, Month = {October 1, 2008}, Year = {2007} }

Refer Export Format

%T PhET Simulation: Vector Addition %D October 1, 2008 %I PhET %C Boulder %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/vector-addition %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %D October 1, 2008 %T PhET Simulation: Vector Addition %I PhET %V 2026 %N 12 February 2026 %8 October 1, 2008 %9 text/html %U https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulations/vector-addition

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