Angle of electron in an electric field

AI Thread Summary
The discussion focuses on understanding the angle of an electron in an electric field, specifically the difference between calculating angles using distance ratios versus velocity components. The original poster attempts to use the formula tan(x) = sy/sx, which leads to confusion as it does not yield the same result as the book's formula tan(x) = vy/vx. It is clarified that the angle derived from distance (sy/sx) represents the angle between two points, while the angle derived from velocity (vy/vx) indicates the direction of travel at a specific point. This distinction is crucial for accurately determining the angle of motion in an electric field. Understanding these different angles is essential for solving related physics problems correctly.
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Homework Statement



https://imgur.com/zEoCpc0
upload_2017-1-4_21-22-49.png


I am trying to figure put the angle and my attempt is tanx=sy/sx (I have calculated a value for the distances)

But my book is saying: tanx =vy/vx

I don't understand why my way of solving it is wrong... I don't get the same answer for x :/
 

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Suppose you drive your car around a corner from point A to point B. The direction you are traveling when you get to B is given by the direction of your velocity VB at B. The angle θ, such that tanθ = sy/sx, is the angle of the red line that connects points A and B. But this is not the direction that you are traveling at B.
upload_2017-1-4_17-51-27.png
 
You are calculating two different angles. Here tanθs≠tanθv. See this picture for clear explanation:
wj6ih.png

Original post link.
 

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