Solving the Displacement Problem: Find Magnitude of Total Displacement

In summary, the problem involves a person walking 21m east and then 34m at an angle of 47 degrees north of east. To find the total displacement, we need to draw the path and calculate the distance from the starting point to the endpoint. This requires knowledge of vectors and trigonometry. Subtracting 21m from 34m is not enough to find the displacement.
  • #1
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Homework Statement


A person walks 21m east and then walks 34m at an angle 47 degrees north of east.
What is the magnitude of the total displacement?

Homework Equations





The Attempt at a Solution


I'm not sure how you would go about finding the answer:confused: Help anyone?:-p
 
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  • #2
I believe this is a problem which would require some knowledge of vectors to solve. since that is the case, draw the path he take and take the starting point to be 0. To calculate the total displacement, just draw a straight line from the starting point to the endpoint.
 
  • #3
I know that displacement is the distance from the starting point to the ending point, but I'm not exactly sure how I would find it in that problem. I don't think I could use the trig formulas (sin, cos, and tan) because we're not dealing with a right triangle here. (Or does it matter?) So how would I find the answer?
 
  • #4
Why ain't we dealing with right angle triangle? Like I said draw the path he took
 
  • #5
Okay, so I draw the path. . . . then what? :confused:Would I subtract 21m from 34m to get the displacement?
 

FAQ: Solving the Displacement Problem: Find Magnitude of Total Displacement

What is displacement and why is it important?

Displacement is the distance between an object's initial position and its final position. It is important in understanding the motion of objects and is a key concept in physics.

How do you calculate displacement?

Displacement is calculated by subtracting the initial position from the final position. This can be represented as Δx = xf - xi, where Δx is displacement, xf is the final position, and xi is the initial position.

Can displacement be negative?

Yes, displacement can be negative if the final position is behind the initial position. This indicates that the object has moved in the opposite direction of the initial position.

What is the difference between displacement and distance?

The main difference between displacement and distance is that displacement is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction, while distance is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude. Displacement takes into account the shortest path between the initial and final positions, while distance does not consider direction.

How does displacement relate to velocity and acceleration?

Displacement is directly related to velocity and acceleration. Velocity is the rate of change of displacement over time, while acceleration is the rate of change of velocity over time. In other words, displacement is the integral of velocity, and velocity is the integral of acceleration.

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