How to find r subscript n in this vector problem

  • Thread starter Thread starter ohheytai
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Vector
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
3 replies · 1K views
ohheytai
Messages
81
Reaction score
0
i uploaded it i can't figure out r subscript n i have no idea can someone help me its my last try thanks
 

Attachments

  • WA.png
    WA.png
    20.1 KB · Views: 500
Physics news on Phys.org
It says that [itex]r_{n}[/itex] and [itex]r_{a}[/itex] give the position with respect to the origin, while r is a relative position vector.

So what vectors would [itex]r_{n}[/itex] and [itex]r_{a}[/itex] be if they start at the origin? Where would the end of those vectors lie? Given that [itex]r = r_{n} - r_{a}[/itex].
If the answer isn't obvious then review material on graphically subtracting vectors.
 
i only have the vector sum though and i don't have those two vectors
 
Note that in a displacement vector r = ra - rb

ra is the vector from origin to head of the vector r
and rb is vector from origin to tail of vector r