Calculation of vector components: A tutorial worksheet to help students develop a conceptual framework

Abstract

When we administered our Test of Understanding of Vectors (TUV) to students who were finishing a physics university remedial course (that covers subjects of a traditional high school physics course), we observed that they have considerable difficulties in calculating the x-component of a vector when the angle given is measured from the y-axis to the vector. As a result of this finding, we decided to design a tutorial worksheet that guides students through the development of a conceptual framework in this subject. The worksheet was implemented with 264 students of the same course in another semester. Upon using the TUV to evaluate the students' understanding, we confirmed that the tutorial worksheet had facilitated their learning. This tutorial worksheet is presented in the appendix and might be used by other physics instructors who teach this material in high schools, colleges or universities.