Vector Components and Displacement of Lost Dog

In summary, a lost dog travels 30 degrees south of west for 450m and then sprints at 20 degrees east of north for 600m. The vector components are calculated to be -225m in the x direction and -389.7m in the y direction for the first vector, and 563.8m in the x direction and 205.21m in the y direction for the second vector. The magnitude of the dog's displacement is calculated to be approximately 643.4m. Drawing the vectors and considering negative values can help in solving this problem.
  • #1
nadong2dong
15
0

Homework Statement


A lost dog travels 30 degrees south of west for 450m. He ten smells some food and sprints at 20 degrees east of north for 600m.
a) draw each vector. Label magnitude and theta.
b) calculate the vector components
c) calculate the magnitude of the dog's displacement.

Homework Equations


my guess is that there are two part of the components
sin30= y/450
cos30= x/450
sin70= y/600
cos70=x/600

The Attempt at a Solution


225
389.7
563.8
205.21

and i have no idea what to do with the magnitude of dog's displacement
 
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  • #2
I desperately need some help please
 
  • #3
It might help if you were to draw the vectors. Then you would see that some of those numbers need to be negative, and the result would give you the x and y components of the resultant vector.
 

Related to Vector Components and Displacement of Lost Dog

1. What are vector components?

Vector components are the individual values that make up a vector, which is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. In the context of a lost dog, vector components could refer to the dog's displacement in the north and east directions.

2. How do you calculate vector components?

To calculate vector components, you need to know the magnitude and direction of the vector. You can use trigonometric functions to find the horizontal and vertical components of the vector, which can then be represented as a pair of numbers (x,y) or (east, north).

3. What is displacement?

Displacement refers to the overall change in position of an object. In the case of a lost dog, displacement would be the distance and direction the dog has traveled from its original location.

4. How can vector components be used to track a lost dog?

By using vector components, you can track the direction and distance the dog has traveled from its original location. This can be helpful in creating a search pattern or determining the dog's potential whereabouts.

5. How is displacement different from distance?

While distance refers to the total amount of ground covered, displacement takes into account both the distance and direction of the movement. This means that even if a dog has traveled a long distance, if it ends up back at its original location, the displacement would be zero.

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