1.) A squirrel found a pile of nuts 80 meters from its nest. The squirrel made one trip from its nest to the pile. The squirrel with nuts in its mouth headed back towards the nest for 35 meters when it saw a cat. Seeing the cat, it dropped its nuts and ran to a tree that was 200 meters in the opposite direction of the nest. When the cat was gone, the squirrel returned to the spot where it dropped the nuts. What was the total distance traveled? What was the total displacement? Make a diagram that shows the squirrels movements. Label each movement a, b, c, etc.

Question

1.) A squirrel found a pile of nuts 80 meters from its nest. The squirrel made one trip from its nest to the pile. The squirrel with nuts in its mouth headed back towards the nest for 35 meters when it saw a cat. Seeing the cat, it dropped its nuts and ran to a tree that was 200 meters in the opposite direction of the nest. When the cat was gone, the squirrel returned to the spot where it dropped the nuts. What was the total distance traveled? What was the total displacement? Make a diagram that shows the squirrels movements. Label each movement a, b, c, etc.

2.) A hikers total displacement is 13 km at 35 degrees North East. If the hiker wishes to return to his starting point on a trail that goes due South and then due East, what will be the total distance he travels on his return trip? Draw a diagram to show the directions and distances he travels.

for #1 can i start going direction because it doesnt say where it starts?

Answer 1

Start the squirrel at the origin

Answer 2

Yes, you are correct. In question #1, the starting point of the squirrel is not specified, so you can assume any direction as the starting point. However, keep in mind that the final answer should still be the same regardless of the starting point because we are looking for the total distance traveled and the total displacement, which are independent of the starting point.

Now let's analyze the movements of the squirrel and calculate the total distance traveled and the total displacement.

1. We'll start by drawing a diagram to visualize the movements of the squirrel.

Nest
(Assume any direction)
|
|
| 80 meters
--------------x------Nuts-------x------------
| |
| |
35 meters 200 meters
| |
| |
x-------Tree

2. Now let's label each movement and calculate the distances:

a) Distance from nest to nuts = 80 meters.
b) Distance from nuts to cat = 35 meters.
c) Distance from cat to tree = 200 meters.
d) Distance from tree to nuts = distance covered twice, so 2 * 200 meters = 400 meters.
e) Distance from nuts to nest = distance covered twice, so 2 * 80 meters = 160 meters.

3. Calculate the total distance traveled by summing up all the distances:

Total distance traveled = distance a + distance b + distance c + distance d + distance e
= 80 m + 35 m + 200 m + 400 m + 160 m
= 875 meters

4. Calculate the total displacement, which is the straight-line distance from the starting point to the ending point:

Total displacement = distance from nest to nuts + distance from nuts to tree
= 80 m + 200 m
= 280 meters

So, the squirrel traveled a total distance of 875 meters and had a total displacement of 280 meters.

Answer 3

Start the squirrel at the origin

550

I started the squirrel at the origin, then it went to pick up the nuts which is 80 meters away from the origin..can i move anyway I want?

5km