What did I do wrong? Two-Dimension Vectors

  • Thread starter Thread starter Shelilla
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Vectors
Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
4 replies · 1K views
Shelilla
Messages
15
Reaction score
0
1. Homework Statement
So the problem is:
A woman walks 440 m at 50° S of W and then 580 m at 60° N of E. The entire trip required 15 minutes.
A. What was the total distance (I already got the answer to this)
B. What was the displacement of the woman?

Homework Equations


I'm almost positive I did everything right. The only two things I could think of is that I mislabeled or miscalculated the equation/triangle, or it's possible that the answer in my booklet is wrong (this has happened before since my physics teacher used online resources which don't always have the right answers.) however I want to make sure it's not just me.

I have a quiz today based on this and the previous lesson so I need a reply quick.

The Attempt at a Solution



The answer in my booklet says: 165.4 m at 2.5° E of N. Is this right?
[/B]
Here is what I had written:
http://orig05.deviantart.net/276d/f/2016/287/9/d/untitled_by_shelilla-dakysaj.jpg
I separated the two angles into different triangles just like we did in lessons. However since it's such a big series of equations, unless I'm a physics expert I can't tell just by looking if I did something wrong, and if I try to revise it there is so many things that can change the answer so it's too confusing to try.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
You've used the Ay component in your calculation of x and Ax in your calculation of y. X directions should be east or west, and Y directions north or south.
 
gneill said:
You've used the Ay component in your calculation of x and Ax in your calculation of y. X directions should be east or west, and Y directions north or south.
Crap, you're right. I probably shouldn't have started this assignment at 9, I made a few mistakes in other questions (such as sin-1(# + #) instead of sin-1(#/#) ) lol, thanks for pointing that out!