How Do You Calculate Direction and Vector Components in Physics Problems?

AI Thread Summary
To calculate the straight-line distance from city A to city C, the total distance is found to be 509 km. The direction of city C relative to city A needs to be determined, but the specifics of that calculation are not provided. For vector A, with a magnitude of 41.9 units at 307° counterclockwise, the x-component is calculated using the cosine of the angle, which is equivalent to 53° clockwise. The formula used is Ax = A * cos(53°). Understanding vector components and angles is crucial for solving these physics problems effectively.
Scropion
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Physics HWK? Someone help?
An airplane flies 200 km due west from city A to city B and then 330 km in the direction of 33.0° north of west from city B to city C.
(a) In straight-line distance, how far is city C from city A?
I got this and its 509

b) Relative to city A, in what direction is city C?
this problem is killing me someone help mee!

This too
The magnitude of vector vector A is 41.9 units and points in the direction 307° counterclockwise from the positive x-axis. Calculate the x-component of this vector.
 
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I figured out the first problem.

The second problem is killing me now. =[

Code: 
The magnitude of vector vector A  is 41.9 units and points in the direction 307° counterclockwise from the positive x-axis. Calculate the x-component of this vector.
 
anyone?/
 
Scropion said:
The magnitude of vector vector A is 41.9 units and points in the direction 307° counterclockwise from the positive x-axis. Calculate the x-component of this vector.

307 degrees counterclockwise is 53 degrees clockwise, right,,, now you can say Ax=A*cos53
 

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