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mcmichie
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Homework Statement
Determine the magnitude and direction of the displacement if a man walks 32.5 km 45° north of east, and then walks due east 17.0 km.
The magnitude of displacement is the distance between the initial and final positions of an object. It is a scalar quantity and is always positive.
The magnitude of displacement can be calculated using the Pythagorean theorem, where the square of the displacement in the x-direction is added to the square of the displacement in the y-direction, and then the square root is taken to find the total magnitude.
The direction of displacement is the angle between the initial and final positions of an object, measured in a counterclockwise direction from the positive x-axis.
The direction of displacement can be represented using the Greek letter theta (θ) or by using the direction of the angle (e.g. north, east, southwest). It is important to specify the reference frame when representing the direction.
No, the magnitude of displacement is always positive. However, the direction of displacement can be negative if the angle is measured clockwise from the positive x-axis.