SUPER simple Physics Problem

[DPTinthemaking15]

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Okay, I am struggling on this problem because I can't seem to find the X and Y axis. "An ox pulls a tree trunk 4 km in a direction 50 degrees east of North. What are the components of the ox's displacement in the easterly and northerly directions?" I was able to find the values pretty quick (3.06km and 2.57km), but I assumed that 2.57km was in the east direction and 3.06km is in the north direction. However, in BR it shows otherwise. I know I am making a simple mistake and I figured someone could point me in the right direction. Thanks

 

[aldol16]

Have you drawn the diagram yet? 50 degrees east of north means that you look directly north and then go 50 degrees to the right. If you're on a standard x-y plane, then this is the equivalent of looking down the positive y-axis and going 50 degrees to the right of it. So if you're talking about conventional angle measures, your vector makes an angle that is 40 degrees from the x-axis. This means that your positive x component, or east, will be 4km*cos(40) and your positive y component, or north, will be 4km*sin(40).

 

[DPTinthemaking15]

Have you drawn the diagram yet? 50 degrees east of north means that you look directly north and then go 50 degrees to the right. If you're on a standard x-y plane, then this is the equivalent of looking down the positive y-axis and going 50 degrees to the right of it. So if you're talking about conventional angle measures, your vector makes an angle that is 40 degrees from the x-axis. This means that your positive x component, or east, will be 4km*cos(40) and your positive y component, or north, will be 4km*sin(40).

Thank you! Your response was helpful. I was attempting to plot 4km*cos(50) and so forth.