What is the particle's displacement from r1 to r2?

The position vector of a particle is initially r1=(-3.0m) hati + (4.0m) hatj and then later is r2=(9.0m) hati + (-3.5m) hatj.

Please have me an explanation.

1 Answer
Jul 18, 2018

Explanation:

The position vector of a particle is initially r1=(-3.0m) hati + (4.0m) hatj and then later is r2=(9.0m) hati + (-3.5m) hatj.

Let O be the orgin in X-Y plane A and B represent the initial and final positions of the particle.

vec(OA)=vecr_1=(-3.0m) hati + (4.0m) hatj

vec(OB)=vecr_2=(9.0m) hati + (-3.5m) hatj

By triangle law of vector addition we have
Displacement vector
vec(AB)=vec(OB)-vec(OA)

=(9-(-3))mhati+((-3.5)-4)mhatj

=(12)mhati-(7.5)mhatj