Question

A delivery truck travels 22 blocks north, 17 blocks east, and 25 blocks south. What is its final displacement from the origin (magnitude)? Assume the blocks are equal length.

Express your answer as an integer.
What is its final displacement from the origin (direction)?
Express your answer using three significant figures.

Answer 1

17.3 blocks

Step-by-step explanation:

The first path of going north is AB the second path of going east is BC the third path of going south is CD. The displacement is AD.

From Pythagoras theorem

AD² = DE²+AE²

`AD=√(DE^2+AE^2)\\\Rightarrow AD=√(3^2+17^2)\\\Rightarrow AD=√(9+289)\\\Rightarrow AD=√(298)\\\Rightarrow AD=17.3\ blocks`

The displacement is the minimum distance between the initial and final point. Here, it is the distance AD.

So, the displacement of the delivery truck is 17.3 blocks.