Calculating Displacement: X Component Error

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on calculating the x component of a car's displacement after it travels in two segments. The first segment is 2.2 km in the positive x-direction, while the second segment involves a turn of 67.5 degrees and a distance of 3.09 km. The error arose from incorrectly negating the x component of the second vector, which should remain positive since the car is moving in a northeast direction. The correct approach involves using the cosine of 67.5 degrees without applying a negative sign. The clarification highlights the importance of accurately interpreting directional changes in vector calculations.
AdnamaLeigh
Messages
42
Reaction score
0
I thought I calculated the vector components correctly and added them, but apparently something is wrong.

A car travels 2.2 km in the x-direction, then turns left 67.5 degrees to the original direction and travels an additional distance of 3.09km. Calculate the x component of the car's displacement.

This is what I did:

The first vector went 2.2km to the right, so the x component of that vector is 2.2, while the y is 0. Unless I misread the info, the second vector is going 3.09km in the northwest direction. I found the x component of that by multiplying the cosine of 67.5 by -3.09 (negative because it is going in the negative x-axis direction, or so that's how my book explains it). I got -1.182. The y component is unncecessary but I got 2.855 for that. I added the two x components up and I got 1.018 and it's incorrect. I don't know where I went wrong.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
If the car turns through an angle of less than 90 degrees its x-component is still positive. You should not have negated 3.09.
 
Yeah, you're right. It's going in the NE direction. I completely messed that up, I feel like a moron. Thanks
 

Thread 'Errors and significant figures'

I multiplied the values first without the error limit. Got 19.38. rounded it off to 2 significant figures since the given data has 2 significant figures. So = 19. For error I used the above formula. It comes out about 1.48. Now my question is. Should I write the answer as 19±1.5 (rounding 1.48 to 2 significant figures) OR should I write it as 19±1. So in short, should the error have same number of significant figures as the mean value or should it have the same number of decimal places as...
View full post »
Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Thread 'A cylinder connected to a hanging mass'

Let's declare that for the cylinder, mass = M = 10 kg Radius = R = 4 m For the wall and the floor, Friction coeff = ##\mu## = 0.5 For the hanging mass, mass = m = 11 kg First, we divide the force according to their respective plane (x and y thing, correct me if I'm wrong) and according to which, cylinder or the hanging mass, they're working on. Force on the hanging mass $$mg - T = ma$$ Force(Cylinder) on y $$N_f + f_w - Mg = 0$$ Force(Cylinder) on x $$T + f_f - N_w = Ma$$ There's also...
View full post »

Similar threads

Can A Vector Have Components Of Say Y or Z in the X-Hat Direction?
Replies
8
Views
861
Calculate electric force using Coulomb's law (vector components are the struggle)
Replies
3
Views
1K
Confusion with force components
Replies
21
Views
2K
Net Displacement: Calculate x,y & r,θ
Replies
7
Views
3K
Syntax Error? x and y components of E field in unit vector form
Replies
13
Views
2K
Finding the x component of position vector
Replies
3
Views
680
Am I Calculating the Components of V3 Correctly?
Replies
9
Views
2K
Overall displacement vector from a walking trip....
Replies
19
Views
8K
Finding x and y components of a magnitude
Replies
1
Views
2K
Calculating Moment: Addition of Torque Components
Replies
3
Views
1K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top