Finding the Direction of Resultant Vector: A Vector Addition Problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter sycho2
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Direction Vector
AI Thread Summary
To find the resultant vector from the given angles (a = 20.8°, b = 54.0°, c = 29.7°), one must calculate the x and y components of each vector and sum them to obtain the resultant's components (Rx and Ry). The magnitude of the resultant vector is 1.9 units. The direction of the resultant vector should be measured counterclockwise from the positive x-axis, which can be determined using the arctangent function (tan⁻¹(Ry/Rx)). A rough sketch can aid in visualizing the angle. Clarification is needed regarding the reference figure mentioned in the problem.
sycho2
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
The question is find the resultant of the vectors shown in the figure below. (Take a = 20.8°, b = 54.0° and c = 29.7°.)

I got the resultant vector to be 1.9units, it also tells me to find the direction counterclockwise from the positive x-axis. I'm not sure how to do that, is it asking me the degrees? I'm just confused what the question is asking for.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
sycho2 said:
The question is find the resultant of the vectors shown in the figure below. (Take a = 20.8°, b = 54.0° and c = 29.7°.)

I got the resultant vector to be 1.9units, it also tells me to find the direction counterclockwise from the positive x-axis. I'm not sure how to do that, is it asking me the degrees? I'm just confused what the question is asking for.
Yes, once you find the magnitude of the resultant vector, usually by using trig to find the x and y components of each vector, summing those components into the Rx and Ry components of the resultant, then the angle of the resultant vector is the angle whose tangent is Ry/Rx. Be sure to draw a rough graphical sketch, and properly detrmine its angle as measured ccw from the positive x axis.
 
Um, what "figure below"?
 
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...
Thread 'Variable mass system : water sprayed into a moving container'
Starting with the mass considerations #m(t)# is mass of water #M_{c}# mass of container and #M(t)# mass of total system $$M(t) = M_{C} + m(t)$$ $$\Rightarrow \frac{dM(t)}{dt} = \frac{dm(t)}{dt}$$ $$P_i = Mv + u \, dm$$ $$P_f = (M + dm)(v + dv)$$ $$\Delta P = M \, dv + (v - u) \, dm$$ $$F = \frac{dP}{dt} = M \frac{dv}{dt} + (v - u) \frac{dm}{dt}$$ $$F = u \frac{dm}{dt} = \rho A u^2$$ from conservation of momentum , the cannon recoils with the same force which it applies. $$\quad \frac{dm}{dt}...
Back
Top