Math Problem Statement
find the magnitude of R and the directional angle θ
Solution
To solve the problem, we need to find the magnitude of the resultant displacement vector , as well as the directional angle of .
Step 1: Decompose Vectors into Components
-
Vector :
- Magnitude
- Direction north of east
The components of are:
-
Vector :
- Magnitude
- Direction west of north
Convert this direction to standard form: from the positive x-axis.
The components of are:
Step 2: Sum the Components
Add the corresponding components to find and :
Step 3: Find the Magnitude of
The magnitude of is given by:
Step 4: Find the Directional Angle
The angle (relative to the positive x-axis) is found using:
Let's compute the components and the final answers:
-
Vector Components:
-
Vector Components:
-
Sum the Components:
-
Magnitude of :
-
Directional Angle :
Final Answers:
- The magnitude of is approximately 222.8 km.
- The directional angle is approximately 75.4° north of east.
Would you like more details or have any questions?
Here are some related questions:
- How would the calculation change if was directed south of east?
- What if had a magnitude of 200 km instead?
- Can the resultant angle ever be greater than ?
- How does the angle change if both vectors were of equal magnitude?
- What is the significance of the angle measured counterclockwise from the positive x-axis?
Tip: Always convert directional angles into standard form before decomposing vectors.
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Math Problem Analysis
Mathematical Concepts
Vector Decomposition
Trigonometry
Component Method
Resultant Vector
Formulas
Vector Components: A_x = A * cos(θ), A_y = A * sin(θ)
Resultant Magnitude: R = sqrt(R_x^2 + R_y^2)
Directional Angle: θ = tan^(-1)(R_y / R_x)
Theorems
Pythagorean Theorem
Inverse Tangent Function
Suitable Grade Level
Grades 9-12
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