Reviewing for exam-how would i find the displacement of two vectors?

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around finding the displacement of two vectors, specifically in the context of a problem involving a plane's movement in different directions. The subject area includes vector addition and components in physics.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants discuss the need to find x and y components of vectors and question whether angles are provided alongside the lengths. There is a mention of using trigonometric functions to determine these components.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring the requirements for calculating displacement and the necessary information, such as angles. Some guidance on component calculation has been suggested, but no consensus has been reached regarding the overall approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants are reviewing for an exam and are referencing example problems without provided solutions. There is uncertainty about the availability of angles for the vectors involved.

pebbles
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what if I'm given the length of two vectors and asked to find displacement? how would i find the direction?

i'm reviewing for an exam and looking over some example problems in a text i have. there are no solutions. would i find the x and y components? rx=rcos(theta) and ry=rsin(theta)?
 
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pebbles said:
what if I'm given the length of two vectors and asked to find displacement? how would i find the direction?
You can't.
i'm reviewing for an exam and looking over some example problems in a text i have. there are no solutions. would i find the x and y components? rx=rcos(theta) and ry=rsin(theta)?
Were you given the angle as well as the length?
 
here's the problem:

a plane goes 29 meters north, and then changes direction to go east at 35 degrees for 50 meters.
 
bumping up my thread...
 

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