Question

A bicyclist travels 4.5 km west, then travels 6.7 km at an angle 27.0 degrees South of West. What is the magnitude of the bicyclist's total displacement?

Answer 1

Answer:

10.90km

Explanation:

Magnitude of the total displacement is expressed using the equation

d = √dx²+dy²

dx is the horizontal component of the displacement

dy is the vertical component of the displacement

dy = -6.7sin27°

dy = -6.7(0.4539)

dy = -3.042

For the  horizontal component of the displacement

dx = -4.5 - 6.7cos27

dx = -4.5 -5.9697

dx = -10.4697

Get the magnitude of the bicyclist's total displacement

Recall that: d = √dx²+dy²

d = √(-3.042)²+(-10.4697)²

d = √9.2538+109.6146

d = √118.8684

d = 10.90km

Hence the magnitude of the bicyclist's total displacement is 10.90km