You drive five blocks due north, five blocks due east, and another two blocks due north. What is the magnitude of your displacement?
A) 7 blocks
B) 12 blocks
C) 9 blocks
D) 10 blocks
E) 8.6 blocks

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The total displacement can be found by considering the northward and eastward movements separately. First, you move 7 blocks north (5 + 2) and 5 blocks east. The displacement is the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle with sides of 7 and 5 blocks. Using the Pythagorean theorem, $ \sqrt{7^2 + 5^2} = \sqrt{49 + 25} = \sqrt{74} $, which is approximately 8.6 blocks.

You Drive Five Blocks Due North, Five Blocks Due East