R= the square root of x^2 + y^2

[CarlosNunes]

Homework Statement

This problem is #17 in Chapter 3 of Giancoli's 5th Edition Physics.

The summit of a mountain, 2085 m above base camp, is measured on a map to be 4580 m horizontally from the camp in a direction 32.4 degrees west of north, What are the x, y, and z components of the displacement vector from camp to summit? What is the length? Choose the x-axis east, y-axis north, and z axis up.

Homework Equations

R= the square root of x^2 + y^2

The Attempt at a Solution

 

[Cephalopoda]

The angle refers to that between the z and x axis. The hypotenuse of the triangle made between these two is 4580. You then have the means of calculating the x and z displacements. Sin(32.4) X 4580 is the x displacement. Cos(32.4) X 4580 is the z displacement. Don't forget to make the x vector negative as you are traveling west, and positive is east. Intro physics is all about triangles and separating a magnitude (hypotenuse) into its vector components.