Help (: adding vectors components.... angles, drawing.

[britt6]

Homework Statement

A ship traveling 55 degrees [W of N] is 65km farther north after 3.0h. What is the ship's velocity.

Homework Equations

sin, cos, tan?

The Attempt at a Solution

I know that Vground= Vair + Vwind, and that Vground = Vboat + Vcurrent, but I'm not sure if that is even relevant to the question... So far I have drawn out :

Do I add these vectors together or subtract? and am I trying to find the boat's velocity or ground velocity. I think boat velocity but what does that make of the 55 degrees W of N... I am so lost please help (:

 

[NFuller]

I have no idea help please!

You need to show some attempt at a solution first before others will try to help you.
Try drawing out the problem at least.

 

[britt6]

You need to show some attempt at a solution first before others will try to help you.
Try drawing out the problem at least.

Ok! I've never used this before lol so I don't know what I'm doing. But thanks, I will do that.

 

[gneill]

Your image link appears to be addressing a target that is not publicly accessible. I suggest that you UPLOAD the image file to the PF server so that it's made available t our homework helpers (use the UPLOAD button).

 

[britt6]

Your image link appears to be addressing a target that is not publicly accessible. I suggest that you UPLOAD the image file to the PF server so that it's made available t our homework helpers (use the UPLOAD button).

Thank you!

 

[gneill]

On your image you've labelled the distances x and y. y is the distance that the boat traveled in the northward direction, and presumably x is distance it traveled in the westward direction. Can you determine the total distance it traveled along its trajectory? (hint: what's the length of the hypotenuse of that triangle?)

 

[britt6]

On your image you've labelled the distances x and y. y is the distance that the boat traveled in the northward direction, and presumably x is distance it traveled in the westward direction. Can you determine the total distance it traveled along its trajectory? (hint: what's the length of the hypotenuse of that triangle?)

Now I am not sure... Do I use v=d/t. The answer in the book says its 38km/h but that doesn't seem to match up with my numbers.

 

[gneill]

Your evaluation of c doesn't look right. Please show your calculation in detail. What is a? What is b?

 

[britt6]

Oops I see where I made a mistake.. instead of putting a as 65 squared, I put 95 squared. Just a calculation error! Thanks for your help, I've figured out the question now (: