Question

A child walks 5 m east, then 3 m north, then 1 m east. A.) What is the magnitude of the child's displacement? B.) What is the direction of the child's displacement?

Answer 1

magnitude of displacement is the shortest distance between starting and ending point

shortest distance = sqrt(horizontal distance^2 + vertical distance^2)

shortest distance = sqrt((5 + 1)^2 + 3^2)

shortest distance = 6.708 m

magnitude of child's displacement = 6.708 m

direction of child's displacement = tan^-1(vertical distance / horizontal distance)

direction = tan^-1(3 / (5 + 1))

direction = 26.57 degree