Wrong Answer in Textbook for Collision Velocity Calculation

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around a collision problem involving the calculation of velocity in unit-vector notation, magnitude, and angle. The original poster expresses concern over a discrepancy between their calculated angle and the textbook's answer.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification, Assumption checking

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to verify their angle calculation against the textbook's answer, noting that their angle is in the fourth quadrant while the textbook's is in the first quadrant. Some participants question the clarity of the textbook's answer regarding the angle's direction.

Discussion Status

Participants are exploring the implications of the quadrant in which the angle lies and discussing the potential ambiguity in the textbook's presentation of the angle. There is recognition of the original poster's reasoning, and some participants agree that the textbook's answer could be misleading.

Contextual Notes

The original poster refrains from sharing the full problem due to copyright concerns, which may limit the context available for discussion.

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Homework Statement


(Problem about a collision) (...). What then is their velocity in (a) unit-vector notation and as (b) magnitude and (c) angle.

I will not post the problem due to copyright issues and that it is absolutely pointless now.

The Attempt at a Solution


I was able to solve (a) and (b).
However, my answer for (c) differs from that of the textbook.
[tex]\text{a)} \;(2.67 \;\text{m/s})\hat{i}+(-3.00 \;\text{m/s})\hat{j}[/tex]
[tex]\text{b)} \;4.01 \;\text{m/s}[/tex]
[tex]\text{c)} \;\theta{} = \tan^{-1}\left(-\frac{3.00}{2.67}\right)=-0.845397=-48.4^{\circ{}}[/tex]

While the book provides +48.4° as the angle.

Am I correct? You can solve (c) from (a) and (b) [my answers are identical to those of the book].

It is from Fundamentals of Physics (Extended) - 9th ed.
 
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Well, without thinking too much about it, the vector given in (a) is in the fourth quadrant. The angle 48.4° is in the first quadrant. Your answer, however, is definitely in the fourth quadrant.
 
You are correct. The text should not have stated the answer as simply 48.4o.
If they had stated it as 48.4o below the positive x direction, then that would have been a good answer. But they didn't.
 
Yes, that's what I thought. I was pretty sure I was right, but as this book has presented very few mistakes already I thought I could be missing something.

Thank you guys for looking at it.
 

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