Magnitude and direction of resultant

[jwxie]

Homework Statement

A car travels 20 km due north and then 35 km in a direction 60 degree west of north. Find the magnitude and direction of the car's resultant displacement.

Homework Equations

R = sqrt(A^2 + B^2)
Ax = cosA, Ay = sinA
tan = y/x

The Attempt at a Solution

This question was introduced and solved in the textbook before the author introduced Components of a Vector and Unit Vectors (i, j, z; Ax, Ay, Az).

I came back to this question as an attempt. The author used law of cosines in his deomonstration, as well as sin beta to solve the angle (direction).
He gave R = 48.2km at 38.9

I tried this problem with component method.
I drew a picture and I started the problem by listing components:

let the north 20km = A, 35km = B and their resultant = R

Ax = 0 (by all means, cos90 * 20 gives zero anyway)
Ay = sin90 * 20 = 20
Bx = cos60 * 35 = 17.5
By = sin60 * 35 = 30.3

** --> = vector
--> R = (Ax + Bx)i + (Ay + By)j
--> R x = Ax + Bx (17.5)
--> Ry = Ay + By (50.3) and
--> R = sqrt (Rx^2 + Ry^2)

In the end, R I got ~ 53 km, and for the degree, I got tan (Ry/Rx) = 70.7, but since the picture shows the direction is beyond 90, I say 180 - 70.7 = 109.3

Where did I do wrong?

Thanks.

 

[hage567]

Homework Statement

A car travels 20 km due north and then 35 km in a direction 60 degree west of north. Find the magnitude and direction of the car's resultant displacement.

Homework Equations

R = sqrt(A^2 + B^2)
Ax = cosA, Ay = sinA
tan = y/x

The Attempt at a Solution

This question was introduced and solved in the textbook before the author introduced Components of a Vector and Unit Vectors (i, j, z; Ax, Ay, Az).

I came back to this question as an attempt. The author used law of cosines in his deomonstration, as well as sin beta to solve the angle (direction).
He gave R = 48.2km at 38.9

I tried this problem with component method.
I drew a picture and I started the problem by listing components:

let the north 20km = A, 35km = B and their resultant = R

Ax = 0 (by all means, cos90 * 20 gives zero anyway)
Ay = sin90 * 20 = 20
Bx = cos60 * 35 = 17.5
By = sin60 * 35 = 30.3

** --> = vector
--> R = (Ax + Bx)i + (Ay + By)j
--> R x = Ax + Bx (17.5)
--> Ry = Ay + By (50.3) and
--> R = sqrt (Rx^2 + Ry^2)

In the end, R I got ~ 53 km, and for the degree, I got tan (Ry/Rx) = 70.7, but since the picture shows the direction is beyond 90, I say 180 - 70.7 = 109.3

Where did I do wrong?

Thanks.

I think your components for your B vector are wrong. Your Bx component should be 35sin60, not 35cos60. Likewise, your By component should be 35cos60 instead of 35sin60. Draw it out carefully and re-check your trig.