Can anyone help with displacement?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mathcrzy
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Displacement
AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the displacement of a car that travels 135 km west and then 30 km southwest. Participants emphasize the need to show work for homework help, highlighting that the problem involves trigonometry rather than just physics. The Pythagorean theorem is suggested as a method to find the displacement, with a focus on constructing a right triangle from the car's movements. To determine the angle, using the arctan function with the triangle's legs is recommended. The conversation underscores the importance of applying mathematical concepts to solve the problem effectively.
mathcrzy
Messages
47
Reaction score
0
A car is driven 135 km west and then 30 km southwest. What is the displacement of the car from the point of origin (magnitude and direction)?
km
° south of west
 
Physics news on Phys.org
What have you tried so far? Where is your work?
 
nothing yet. that is the question from my physics book.
 
I'm sorry, but the rules clearly state that you need to show some work to get homework help on this forum. You must know SOMETHING about the problem? What concepts are involved. What are your thoughts about a possible solution?
 
Seems like a math problem involving trigonometry, not so much physics. It seems all you need is the Pythagorean theorem for displacement in km and angle in arctan.
 
i don't know how to find the angle?
 
Using the Pythagorean theorem, find the right triangle whose legs are respectively southward and westward oriented and whose hypotenuse connects origin with destination. Then utilize the arctan function with the legs. I'll leave this up to you.
 
Back
Top