Finding the second displacement from the first and resultant

AI Thread Summary
To find the second displacement of a particle given the first displacement and the resultant, one can use vector components. The first displacement can be broken down into its x and y components using trigonometric functions. By applying the equations x1 + x2 = xtotal and y1 + y2 = ytotal, the second displacement's components can be calculated. The magnitude of the second displacement can then be determined using the Pythagorean theorem. The direction is found by calculating the angle from the x-axis using the arctangent of the y-component over the x-component.
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Homework Statement



A particle undergoes two displacements. The first has a magnitude of 147 cm and makes an angle of 115 degrees with the positive x axis. The resultant displacement has a magnitude of 188 cm and is directed at an angle of 29.6 degrees to the positive x axis.

a) Find the magnitude of the second displacement.
b) Find the direction of the second displacement (with positive measured counterclockwise from the x axis, between the limits of -180 degrees and 180 degrees).



Homework Equations



Not entirely sure.
Possibly

147{cos115,sin115}

188{cos29.6,sin29.6}



The Attempt at a Solution



I've done similar problems to this (finding the resultant displacement) but I don't know how to find the second displacement. I tried looking this problem up and couldn't find any help that led to the right answer.
 
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if you're ok with using just components, then x1+ x2 = xtotal ... gives you x2 since you know x1 and xtotal.
similarly, y1 + y2 = ytotal gives you y2 since you know y1 and ytotal.

Don't forget Pythagoras, if they want magnitudes!
 
Thanks!
 
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