During a rodeo, a clown runs 8.0 m north, turns 55° north of east, and runs 3.5 m. Then, after waiting for the bull to come near, the clown turns due east and runs 5.0 m to exit the arena. What is the clown's total displacement?

Topic: Adding Vectors Algebraically.

1 Answer
Jan 8, 2018

About #12.9# meters.

Explanation:

See the figure.
enter image source here

The crown moved to the north by #8.0+3.5sin55°=10.87# meters.
His displacement to the east is #3.5cos55°+5.0=7.01# meters.

Total displacement can be obtained by the Pytagoras rule.
#d=sqrt(10.87^2+7.01^2)=12.93…~=12.9# (m)