A car travels 3.0km due south and then 4.0km due west.what is it displacement from the starting point?
A)8km
B)5km
C)52km
D)15km
i think it is B
See previous post: Mon. 9-28-15, 3:51 PM.
To find the displacement from the starting point, we can use the concept of vectors.
First, we need to calculate the individual displacements in the north-south and east-west directions.
The car travels 3.0 km due south, which means it has a displacement of 3.0 km in the south direction.
The car then travels 4.0 km due west, which means it has a displacement of 4.0 km in the west direction.
Now, we can find the displacement from the starting point by using the Pythagorean theorem.
The Pythagorean theorem states that the square of the hypotenuse (displacement) is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides (displacements in each direction).
In this case, the displacement is the hypotenuse, and the individual displacements in the north-south and east-west directions are the other two sides.
Applying the Pythagorean theorem, we have:
Displacement^2 = (3.0 km)^2 + (4.0 km)^2
Displacement^2 = 9.0 km^2 + 16.0 km^2
Displacement^2 = 25.0 km^2
Taking the square root of both sides, we find:
Displacement = √(25.0 km^2)
Displacement = 5.0 km
Therefore, the displacement from the starting point is 5.0 km.
So, your answer is correct. The correct option is B) 5 km.