# Magnitude and direction of displacement

1. Oct 2, 2009

### mcmichie

1. The problem statement, all variables and given/known data

Determine the magnitude and direction of the displacement if a man walks 32.5 km 45° north of east, and then walks due east 17.0 km.

2. Oct 2, 2009

### defunc

Use basic vector addition. Then write the resultant as an angle and magnitude

3. Oct 2, 2009

### Lancelot59

A good practice to develop is using components. It takes longer for these sorts of easy problems, but if you nail down the method now it'll really help once you get to more complicated stuff.

Things to remember:

45o North of East basically means 45o North measured from the East.

So just split them into X and Y components and add. Then just use pythagoras to get the magnitude, and some basic trig: tan$$\Theta$$= y/x to get the angle.
Remember the angle is always measured from the closest X axis. If you remember the CAST rule you can figure out what quadrant the angle is in.

For this one it should end up in quadrant I.

Have a go at it.