Vector Treasure Hunt
Introduction

In this activity you will learn about vectors. Vectors are quantities that have both magnitude (size) and direction and are represented as arrows. If you have ever given directions to someone such as, "go one mile that way, take a right, go two miles, then take a left," you have described displacement vectors. In this activity you will first learn how to combine different vectors in various ways to locate a buried treasure. Then you will learn how to describe vectors as pairs of numbers. Finally, you will bury your own treasure and desribe the path using vectors to locate it.


New page
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New page
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Was Bluebeard just lucky or would a different order of these vectors lead him to the same spot? Just lucky. A different order of these vectors would lead Bluebeard to a different location. A different order of these vectors would lead Bluebeard to the same location. Explain why you chose the answer above.
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Why do you think you found the treasure again?
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Is there a way to connect all of the vectors so that you do not reach the treasure? Yes No Explain your reasoning.
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Count the number of blocks Bluebeard traveled to the right (east) for each path. Enter the number below. 4 Count the number of blocks Bluebeard traveled up (north) for each path. Enter the number below. 3
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No matter which path Bluebeard traveled, he was displaced 4 blocks to the right and 3 blocks up.

Let's try a different starting position . . .
Constructing a Different Vector Path to the Treasure
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If Bluebeard were to travel along a different arrangement of these four vectors, would he end up at the same location or a different location? He would end up at the same location. He would end up at a different location.