Calculating Displacement Using Vectors and Angles

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the displacement of the roller coaster, start by drawing an 85m horizontal line. Then, draw a second line at a 30° angle above the horizontal, which should be directed northeast. This creates a right triangle where you can apply the Pythagorean theorem to find the total displacement. The total displacement can be calculated by finding the resultant vector from these two segments. Understanding the vector components is crucial for solving the problem accurately.
jubbly
Messages
22
Reaction score
0
Hey guys I'm lost with this word problem.
A roller coaster moves 85m horizontally, then travels 45m at an angel of 30.0° above the horizontal. What is its displacement from its starting point?

I started out by drawing a 85m line. But now I'm confused because I have to set a 30 degree angle. Would I draw a line to the northeast or northwest?

That's all the need I'll need for now. Thanks guys!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
jubbly said:
I have to set a 30 degree angle. Would I draw a line to the northeast or northwest?

You would draw it NorthEast, or 3 o'clock angle, or 30 degrees, or Up-Right, etc. From there, you can find the total displacement from starting point (assuming you can see the triangle).
 

Thread 'Struggling to understand the concept of this question (ice cube in water optics question)'

TL;DR Summary: I came across this question from a Sri Lankan A-level textbook. Question - An ice cube with a length of 10 cm is immersed in water at 0 °C. An observer observes the ice cube from the water, and it seems to be 7.75 cm long. If the refractive index of water is 4/3, find the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. I could not understand how the apparent height of the ice cube in the water depends on the height of the ice cube immersed in the water. Does anyone have an...
View full post »

Thread 'Rolling without slipping on a curved surface'

Kindly see the attached pdf. My attempt to solve it, is in it. I'm wondering if my solution is right. My idea is this: At any point of time, the ball may be assumed to be at an incline which is at an angle of θ(kindly see both the pics in the pdf file). The value of θ will continuously change and so will the value of friction. I'm not able to figure out, why my solution is wrong, if it is wrong .
View full post »

Similar threads

Roller coaster displacement physics problem
Replies
1
Views
7K
What is the single displacement needed for an expert golfer to make the hole?
Replies
6
Views
5K
Calculate the displacement? (Projectile motion problem)
Replies
3
Views
2K
Velocity vector displacement problem
Replies
9
Views
2K
Map question involving vectors (find the angle)
Replies
13
Views
2K
Vectors Homework: Displacement & Direction at 80°
Replies
14
Views
8K
Find angle between displacement and velocity vector
Replies
3
Views
4K
Ball trajectory velocity and displacement vectors
Replies
13
Views
3K
Vector Displacement Magnitude Calculation
Replies
1
Views
2K
Vectors and Angles in Helicopter Flight
Replies
5
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top