Math Problem Statement
A body starting from origin first of all moves 10m towards North then 15m towards east and finally moves 20m vertically upwards. What is the total displacement?
Solution
To calculate the total displacement, we treat this as a three-dimensional vector problem. The body moves in three perpendicular directions: north, east, and vertically upward.
Step-by-Step Breakdown:
-
Movement Towards North (10 m):
- This movement happens along the y-axis.
- So, the displacement vector for this part is: .
-
Movement Towards East (15 m):
- This movement happens along the x-axis.
- So, the displacement vector for this part is: .
-
Movement Vertically Upward (20 m):
- This movement happens along the z-axis.
- So, the displacement vector for this part is: .
Total Displacement:
The total displacement vector is the vector sum of all the individual displacement vectors:
= (0\hat{i} + 10\hat{j} + 0\hat{k}) + (15\hat{i} + 0\hat{j} + 0\hat{k}) + (0\hat{i} + 0\hat{j} + 20\hat{k})$$ $$\vec{r_{total}} = 15\hat{i} + 10\hat{j} + 20\hat{k}$$ Now, the **magnitude** of the total displacement is given by the formula for the magnitude of a vector: $$|\vec{r_{total}}| = \sqrt{(15)^2 + (10)^2 + (20)^2}$$ $$|\vec{r_{total}}| = \sqrt{225 + 100 + 400} = \sqrt{725}$$ $$|\vec{r_{total}}| \approx 26.93 \, \text{m}$$ ### Final Answer: The total displacement is approximately **26.93 meters**. Would you like more details on this, or do you have any further questions? Here are some related questions for you to consider: 1. How do you calculate displacement in a two-dimensional plane (like just North and East)? 2. What is the difference between distance and displacement? 3. How would you calculate displacement if the body moved in a circular path? 4. How would the displacement change if there was an additional movement in the south direction? 5. What is the role of vectors in calculating displacement in physics? **Tip:** Remember that displacement is always the shortest straight-line distance between the initial and final positions, and it can be represented as a vector.Ask a new question for Free
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Vector Addition
Three-Dimensional Geometry
Displacement
Formulas
Displacement formula: |r_total| = sqrt(x^2 + y^2 + z^2)
Theorems
Pythagorean Theorem
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 9-12
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