- #1
madinsane
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Homework Statement
a motorist drives south at 20 m/s for 3 min, then turns west and travels west at 25m/s for 2 min, and finally travels n/w at 30 m/s for 1 min. for this 6 minute trip, find the net vector displacement
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
distance 1: 20m/s * 3min * 60s/min = 3600m south
distance 2: 25m/s * 2.6min * 60s/min = 3900m west
distance 3: 30m/s * 1min * 60s/min * cos45 = 1273m west
... 30m/s * 1min * 60s/min * sin45 = 1273m north
My real problem is why we assumed the angle is 45 degrees? Why did we dissect the 90 degree angle in half for the north west if it doesn't tell us in the problem?