F.B Posted September 18, 2005 Posted September 18, 2005 I dont not understand velocity and speed in two dimensions. My teacher barely explained it and i do not know what to do except for the part of finding out the coordinates. Anyways heres a question i hope you will be able to help me with. Determine the vector sum of the displacements d1= 2.4 m [32 degrees S of W]; d2=1.6 m ; and d3= 4.9 m [27 degrees S of E]. do i add one and subract the rest i dont get it. This is what i did so far, is this right? drx= d1+d1+d3 =2.4cos32 - 1.6 - 4.9cos63 =2.08 - 1.6 - 2.22 = -1.79 dry= d1 + d2 + d3 =2.4sin32 - 1.6 - 4.9sin63 =1.27 - 1.6 - 4.365 = -4.695 I dont know whether i was supposed to add these or subtract them. If this is right what do i do from here??
ydoaPs Posted September 18, 2005 Posted September 18, 2005 you're supposed to add them. it may be easier(especially once you get more into kinematics) to put the vectors in the form [math]\vec{v}=<a_1,a_2>[/math]. it makes things like addition and products much easier.
F.B Posted September 18, 2005 Author Posted September 18, 2005 But they are going in different directions, so how am i supposed to add them. Does that mean i did it wrong. Also after i get x resultant and my y resultant what am i supposed to do now?
ydoaPs Posted September 18, 2005 Posted September 18, 2005 it doesn't matter which direction they are in
swansont Posted September 19, 2005 Posted September 19, 2005 Break them up into orthogonal components (x,y) and add the components.
F.B Posted September 19, 2005 Author Posted September 19, 2005 i did do that up there but i subtracted and i did it again and i added them but i still get the wrong answer so can you like go step by step please
ydoaPs Posted September 19, 2005 Posted September 19, 2005 you can't really subtract vectors. you can, however, add the opposite of a vector(A+-B). do it like i said. put it in the v=(x,y) form and add that way. i suppose they want you to find the magnatude in the direction of the vector, so once you've added them, go ahead and use the pythagorean theorem
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