Mini-Golf Vector Activity - Adding Multiple Vectors

This fun 50 minute activity is designed to simplify resolving vectors into components and determining the magnitude and direction of the resultant when multiple vectors are added. It is appropriate for on-level up to AP Physics and for a pre-calculus class.

Presented as a 9 hole round of mini-golf, students use colored pencils to resolve vectors into x and y components using a grid, add those components to create a resultant and then calculate the magnitude and direction of the resulting vector.

You can use this to teach the topic or review it. This would be a helpful lead in to electrostatic problems in AP physics second semester, for example. It’s also a good activity to leave for a sub because the Power Point introduces the process.

What you get:

• Power Point to present the activity – includes solving the first system together, a tiny bit of history about miniature golf, and clear instructions.
• Student worksheet with data tables and miniature golf course on the back.
• Key with solved problems
• Compass heading answers if you want to use them, angles off of East and West if you’d prefer those.
• A follow up quiz with two variations and a key.

As a follow up, consider my Vector Treasure Pirate Hunt to get your students up and outside doing physics:

https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Make-Multiple-Vectors-Fun-Pirate-Treasure-Hunt-Physics-Trigonometry

Keywords: physics, vector, vector analysis, compass heading, angles, trigonometry, pre-calculus, magnitude, direction, resultant, components, Pythagorean theorem, activity, sub plans, AP Physics 1.