How Do You Determine the Fourth Leg and Angles in a Sailboat Race Course?

  • Thread starter Thread starter vane12
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Race Vectors
AI Thread Summary
In a sailboat race course defined by vectors A, B, C, and D, the angles Θ1, Θ2, and Θ3 are given as 35.00°, 34.00°, and 20.00°, with magnitudes A = 3.0 km, B = 5.0 km, and C = 4.5 km. The finish line coincides with the starting line, necessitating the calculation of the fourth leg's distance, angle Θ4, and the vertical displacement Dy. To find these values, the cosine and sine rules can be applied to determine the resultant vector from A and B, followed by the angle between the resultant and vector C. The calculations involve breaking down each vector into its components and using trigonometric relationships to derive the necessary results. Ultimately, the correct distance for the fourth leg can be obtained, along with the values for Dy and Θ4.
vane12
Messages
3
Reaction score
0
A sailboat race course consists of four legs defined by the displacement vectors A, B, C and Dshown above.
The values of the angles are Θ1 = 35.00, Θ2 = 34.00, andΘ3 = 20.00.
The magnitudes of the first three vectors are A = 3.0 km, B = 5.0 km and C = 4.5 km. The finish line of the course coincides with the starting line.
The coordinate system for this problem has positive x to the right, positive y as up and counter-clockwise to be a positive angle.
1) What is the distance of the fourth leg?
2) What is the value of Θ4?
3) What is the value of Dy?

To solve the problem I did the following:

Ax = 3cos35°
Ay = 3sin35°
Bx = 5cos146°
By = 5sin146°
Cx = 4.5cos 20°
Cy = 4.5sin20°

Somehow I was able to get the right answer of the fourth leg but not for Dy or the angle.
 

Attachments

  • sailboat race.gif
    sailboat race.gif
    1.9 KB · Views: 805
Physics news on Phys.org
From the given data, you can find the angle between A and B. From that you can find the resultant R of A and B using cosine rule. Next using sine rule, you can find the angle between A and R and B and R. That gives you the angle between R and C. Similarly proceed to find the fourth leg and θ4.
 
Thread 'Collision of a bullet on a rod-string system: query'
In this question, I have a question. I am NOT trying to solve it, but it is just a conceptual question. Consider the point on the rod, which connects the string and the rod. My question: just before and after the collision, is ANGULAR momentum CONSERVED about this point? Lets call the point which connects the string and rod as P. Why am I asking this? : it is clear from the scenario that the point of concern, which connects the string and the rod, moves in a circular path due to the string...
Back
Top