Question

A car goes 5.0 km east, 3.0 km south, 2.0 km west and 1 km north. (a) Determine how far north and how far east it has been displaced. (b) Find the displacement of the vector both graphically and algebraically.

Answer 1

Given:

5.0 km east

3.0 km south

2.0 km west

1 km north

Solution:

V1 = 5-2 = 3

V2 = 3-1 = 2

= $\sqrt{V_1^2 + V_2^2 + 2\times V_1 \times V_2 \times cos90}$  

= $\sqrt{9+4}$

= $\sqrt{13}$