A delivery truck leaves a warehouse and travels 2.60 km north. The truck makes a left turn and travels 1.25 km west before making another right turn to travel 1.40 km north to arrive at its destination. What is the magnitude and direction of the truck's displacement from the warehouse?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The total northward displacement is 2.60 km + 1.40 km = 4.00 km. The westward displacement is 1.25 km. Using the Pythagorean theorem, the magnitude of the displacement is √(4.00² + 1.25²) = 4.19 km. The direction is given by tan⁻¹(4.00/1.25) = 72.6° north of west.

A Delivery Truck Leaves a Warehouse and Travels 2