mikeyp said:Homework Statement
Vector a has a magnitude of 4.3 m and is directed east. Vector b has a magnitude of 3.9 m and is directed 35° west of north. What are (a) the magnitude and (b) the direction (from east) of a + b ? What are (c) the magnitude and (d) the direction (from east) of b - a? Round your angles to the nearest degree.
Homework Equations
socahtoa? a^2+b^2=c^2
sin(35)*3.9/4.3
The Attempt at a Solution
sin(35)*3.9/4.3
Magnitude and direction are two important concepts in science, particularly in the field of physics. Magnitude refers to the size or amount of a quantity, while direction refers to the orientation or path of movement. Together, they describe the overall intensity or force of a physical quantity.
To calculate the magnitude and direction of a vector, you can use the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometric functions. The magnitude of a vector is found by taking the square root of the sum of the squared values of its components. To find the direction, you can use inverse trigonometric functions to determine the angle between the vector and a reference axis.
Magnitude and direction are two distinct concepts, with magnitude referring to the size or amount of a quantity, while direction refers to the orientation or path of movement. Together, they describe the overall intensity or force of a physical quantity, but they are not interchangeable terms.
Magnitude and direction are used in various real-world applications, such as navigation, engineering, and astronomy. For example, in navigation, the magnitude and direction of a vector can be used to determine the speed and direction of a moving object. In engineering, they are used to calculate forces and design structures. In astronomy, they are used to track the movement of celestial bodies.
The units for measuring magnitude and direction depend on the specific physical quantity being measured. For example, the magnitude of a force is typically measured in newtons (N), while the direction is measured in degrees (°) or radians (rad). Other common units for magnitude and direction include meters per second (m/s) for velocity, kilograms (kg) for mass, and joules (J) for energy.