An ant travels 30 cm east, 25 cm north, and finally 15 cm west. What is the direction of its displacement with respect to its starting point?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ant's final displacement in the east-west direction is 30 cm east - 15 cm west = 15 cm east. In the north-south direction, it is 25 cm north. The angle of displacement, θ, can be found using tan(θ) = opposite/adjacent = 25/15. Solving for θ gives an angle of approximately 59º north of east.

An Ant Travels 30 Cm East, 25 Cm North, and Finally