A person is walking and causes a mop to have two displacements. The first has a magnitude of 170 cm and makes an angle of 130 degrees with the positive x-axis. The resultant displacement has a magnitude of 173 cm and is directed at an angle of 17.7 degrees to the positive x-axis. How can I find the magnitude of the second displacement?
2007-10-08 06:07:53 · 2 answers · asked by tanya 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Draw the 2 known vectors and connect the tip of the first to the tip of the 2nd. Use Pythagoras & trig to get the magnitude and direction of the unknown vector. Should be something like 284.865 cm @ -15.814°
2007-10-08 10:27:50 · answer #1 · answered by Steve 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just subtract the horizontal and vertical components of the first displacements from those of the resultant and use the Pythagorean to get the mag:
x = 173cos17.7 - 170cos130 = 274.08
y = 173sin17.7 - 170sin130 = -77.402
Mag = â(274.08^2 + 77.402^2 ) = 284.80cm
2007-10-08 17:18:51 · answer #2 · answered by jsardi56 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋