Hints on how to approach this vector displacement problem?

[JessicaJ283782]

A motorist drives south at 32.0 m/s for 4.00 min, then turns west and travels at 55.0 m/s for 5.10 min, and finally travels northwest at 12.0 m/s for 2.00 min. Find the following values.

1.total vector displacement (m) at a _ degree south of west
2.average speed (m/s)
3. average velocity m/s (magnitude) at a _ degree south of west.

I'm not too sure how to approach this problem at all? Any hints would be appreciated, thank you!

 

[Chestermiller]

A motorist drives south at 26.0 m/s for 3.00 min, then turns west and travels at 25.0 m/s for 2.20 min, and finally travels northwest at 30.0 m/s for 1.00 min. For this 6.20 min trip, find the following values.

1.total vector displacement (m) at a _ degree south of west
2.average speed (m/s)
3. average velocity m/s (magnitude) at a _ degree south of west.

I'm not too sure how to approach this problem at all? Any hints would be appreciated, thank you!

Force yourself to think of what you would do first. You don't have to solve the whole problem. Just tell us what you would do first, and what your results are.

Chet

 

[JessicaJ283782]

I think you would have to draw the vectors first. So, the first one would be straight down and would have (0,26) as the coordinates. The second would be (25,0) pointing to the left. Then the third one would connect the two others. So displacement is all of them added up correct?

 

[Chestermiller]

I think you would have to draw the vectors first. So, the first one would be straight down and would have (0,26) as the coordinates. The second would be (25,0) pointing to the left. Then the third one would connect the two others. So displacement is all of them added up correct?

Well, this isn't correct, but it is a good start. Given the speeds and velocities, how far does the motorist travel during each leg of the journey (in meters)?