How Do You Calculate the Distance and Relative Speed Between Two Ships?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around calculating the distance and relative speed between two ships, A and B, which depart from the same port and travel in different directions at specified speeds. The problem involves vector components and their relationships in a two-dimensional plane.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Mathematical reasoning, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss using trigonometric functions to resolve vector components and calculate distances. There are questions about the accuracy of these calculations and the methods for determining relative speed. Some participants suggest using the law of cosines and vector addition as potential approaches.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided suggestions for methods, while others express uncertainty about their calculations and seek further guidance. There is a mix of attempted solutions and ongoing exploration of the problem's components.

Contextual Notes

There is mention of potential confusion regarding the reference frames and the need for careful consideration of both x and y components in vector calculations. Participants are navigating the constraints of the problem without full consensus on the methods to apply.

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Ships A and B leave port together. For the next two hours, ship A travels at 35.0 mph in a direction 25.0 degrees west of north while the ship B travels 80.0 degrees east of north at 30.0 mph.
What is the distance between the two ships two hours after they depart?
What is the speed of ship A as seen by ship B?

basically i tried using trig to find the x component of both vectors and then added them. it wanted distance at t = 2 so i did 70 * sin (25) + 60 * sin(80) but it was incorrect. i tried this method with the example in the book and it was fairly close. so I am guessing i did it incorrectly but got an answer that was close by coincidence? and for the second part I am really unsure where to begin, i just know reference frames have something to do with it and maybe some sort of vector addition/subtraction. any suggestions will be much appreciated.
 
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anyone help please? I am stuck
 
try using

[tex]v = \frac{d}{t}[/tex]
 
i got it using the law of cosines. thanks for your suggestion though.
 
When you're calculating the length of a component-wise vector it's
[tex]\sqrt{x^2+y^2}[/tex]
from the way you describe what you did, you might have forgotten the [tex]y[/tex] component.

The second part looks like straightforward vector addition as well.
 

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