How Do You Calculate a Ship's Velocity Given Its Direction and Displacement?

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on calculating a ship's velocity given its direction and displacement. The ship travels at an angle of 55 degrees west of north and covers a distance of 65.0 km north in 3.0 hours. To determine the ship's velocity, one must analyze the northward and westward components of the velocity vector using trigonometric principles to form a right triangle. The hypotenuse of this triangle represents the total magnitude of the ship's velocity.

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  • Familiarity with velocity calculations
  • Ability to interpret directional angles
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Homework Statement



A ship traveling 55 degrees [W of N] is 65.0 km farther north after 3.0 h. What is the ship's velocity?

Homework Equations



N/A

The Attempt at a Solution



I am totally not sure how to start this problem. My teacher told me there are two type of problems, AIM or Drift. I think this problem is AIM. I know then I have to draw the resultant first.
 
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Homework Statement



A ship traveling 55 degrees [W of N] is 65.0 km farther north after 3.0 h. What is the ship's velocity?

This is a problem involving components of the velocity vector. Draw the direction of the velocity vector, which points 55º west of north. Then draw its northward and westward components so that you've formed a right triangle.

You are told that the ship is 65 km farther north after 3 hours, so what is the northward component of the ship's velocity (the speed in the northerly direction)? How can you use trigonometry to find the length of the hypotenuse of this triangle, which represents the total magnitude of the ship's velocity? (You already know the direction.)
 

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