Question

A cave explorer is surveying the cave. He follows a passage 100m straight east, then 50m in the direction 30degree west of north, then 150m at 45degree west of south. After fourth unmeasured displacement he finds himself back where he started. Whats the fourth displacement? In magnitude and direction

Answer 1

Just add up the displacements and see where you end up. The final displacement is just minus that location.

For example,
<u>50m in the direction 30degree west of north</u> is

<-50sin30°,50cos30°> = <-25.0,43.3>

Answer 2

yes