Question

Eli walks fue east for 5.5 blocks and the turns due north for 8.0 blocks. What is the resultant displacement? A.13.5 blocks north B. 13.5 blocks northeast C. 9.7blocks northeast D. 9.7 blocks southwest

Answer 1

consider east-west direction along X-axis and north-south direction along Y-axis.

A = displacement along east direction = 5.5 i

B = displacement along north direction = 8 j

R = resultant displacement

Resultant displacement is given as

R = A + B

R = 5.5 i + 8 j

using Pythagorean theorem , magnitude of the resultant displacement is given as

|R| = sqrt(|A|² + |B|²) = sqrt((5.5)² + (8)²) = 9.7 blocks