Homework Help: physics

Posted by Melissa on Friday, March 23, 2012 at 7:08pm.

A triathlete swims 1200 m due to east followed by 1500 m due northeast (45o). What is the overall displacement? (magnitude and angle). Calculate the displacement with long-hand calculations.

physics - bobpursley, Friday, March 23, 2012 at 9:29pm
Long hand? I wonder what that means.

sketch the diagram.

You have two sides, and the included angle. SAS Law of cosines to get the magnitude of the displacement

d^2=1200^2+1500^2+2(1200)(1500)Cos135
solve for displacement magnitude.

Now angle, in my sketch, law of sines:
1500/SinA=d/sin135

you know d, solve for A. But A is measured from East, so the angle from N is 90-A.
physics - Melissa, Monday, March 26, 2012 at 12:41pm
thank you bobpursley

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