Lesson Plan: Magnitude of a 2D Vector Mathematics
This lesson plan includes the objectives, prerequisites, and exclusions of the lesson teaching students how to determine the magnitude of two-dimensional vectors.
Objectives
Students will be able to
- interpret the magnitude of a vector as its length as represented in a 2D coordinate system,
- find the magnitude of a 2D vector that is given in component form or in terms of unit vectors,
- find the magnitude of a 2D vector that is given graphically,
- find the possible values for an an unknown component in a 2D vector when given its magnitude,
- understand that vectors of magnitude one are called unit vectors,
- understand that vectors of magnitude zero are called zero vectors.
Prerequisites
Students should already be familiar with
- the Pythagorean theorem,
- unit vectors,
- vectors in component form and in terms of unit vectors,
- representing 2D vectors graphically.
Exclusions
Students will not cover
- adding and subtracting vectors,
- scalar multiplication of vectors,
- 3D vectors,
- the dot product or cross product.