# Simple Vectors on man walking

1. Sep 5, 2007

### FallenAngel

I am new to the US and I have taken physics and I need a little help.

For each vector given, draw a co-ordinate system and sketch the vector on a seperate sheet of paper. be sure to label the angle that the vector makes with axis.

a: a man walks 800 meters in a direction of 20 degrees west of north

b: a worker lifts a sign by exerting a force along a rope of 250N at an angle of 50 degrees with respect to the ground.

----------------------------------------------------
a jogger runs 300 meters due east and then turns & runs 500 meters due south.

what is the total distance that she ran?

800m, yes?

so then it asks me to calculate the displacement [magnitude & direction]

how do i calculate magnitude and direction?

2. Sep 5, 2007

### nicktacik

If you have a vector (x,y), its magnitude is $$\sqrt{x^2 + y^2}$$, and the angle of orientation relative to the positive x-axis is $$\arctan{\frac{y}{x}}$$. (Use the signs of y and x to figure out what quadrant you are in)

Last edited: Sep 5, 2007
3. Sep 5, 2007

### t-money

In the first last example I got 583 meters due South East. It is easiest to break up the vectors into their X, and Y components. Essentially what you are doing is using the Distance formula. You usually want to add vectors when wanting to know a change in position, or change in velocity.

4. Sep 5, 2007

### FallenAngel

...what?

I'm so lost. :(

X And Y? where?

What is a co - ordinate system.

Is it the same as drawing graphs?

>< i'm lost

Last edited by a moderator: Sep 6, 2007
5. Sep 6, 2007

### FallenAngel

44 views and NO ONE has said anything?

This homework is for TOMORROW, FIRST PERIOD. :(

6. Sep 6, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
How is it anyone's fault here that you've not done your homework? Firstly, you should've posted in the homework forums. Secondly, you have to show some effort before we can help.

By "draw a coordinate system" it means draw an x and y axis. Then draw the respective vectors on the diagrams, noting the angle to either the x or y axis.

Last edited: Sep 6, 2007
7. Sep 6, 2007

### FallenAngel

I know nothing about physics I haven't done any of this before and I didn't know there were homework forums. - Now I do, but I didn't realize I had to post it there...

Last edited: Sep 6, 2007
8. Sep 7, 2007

### cristo

Staff Emeritus
Well, your post has been moved now, so not to worry.

Have you made any attempts at the questions? For the first two questions have you tried setting up a coordinate system, like I mentioned above, and plotting the vectors? For the third question, yes, the total distance covered is 800m. To find the displacement, you will need to set up a coordinate system, and draw the two distance vectors. The resultant of these (the hypotenuse of the right angled triangle made) is the displacement. Its magnitude can be find by Pythagoras, and its direction by trigonometry.

9. Sep 7, 2007

### Heat

A coordinate system is the x and y axis.
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/printer/v1r1/topic/com.ibm.printers.industrial/reference/hb9pr013.gif

for this part:

a: a man walks 800 meters in a direction of 20 degrees west of north

you can think as the positive y axis as north, the positive x axis as east, the negative y axis as south and the west axis as west.
http://www.uscg.mil/diversity/COMPASS/Compass_pin.JPG

That was a quick pic I got from online.

So you travel 800 meters or units if you prefer, to the west of north. North is the positive y axis, and you go to the west at 20 degrees.

The rest are similar, and for the resultant, a previous member responsed to that part.