1. Distance vs. Displacement
When an object moves about, we can refer to the path it has taken as total “distance” traveled or “displacement” from its origin.

2. Using Right Triangles to Solve for Displacement

3. Remember: vectors in the same dimension, right-left or up-down, can be added or subtracted AS LONG AS you do not change the scalar value
You can use Pythagorean if you are given the length of two sides...otherwise use sine, cosine or tangent
It will be easiest to solve these problems if you sketch!!!

4. Example 1:
An archaeologist climbs the Great Pyramid in Giza, Egypt. If the pyramid has a width of 230m and a height of 136 m, what is her displacement from her original position? Displacement includes magnitude and direction!!!

5. Example 2:
Find the horizontal and vertical components of a helicopter which traveled 95 km at an angle of 33o to the ground.

6. Example 3:
Leo walks 10 blocks north, turns and walks 5 blocks west and finally turns and walks 3 blocks south. What is Leo’s distance traveled? What is Leo’s displacement from the origin? Displacement includes magnitude and direction!!!

7. Example 4:(we can use vector diagrams and trig for velocity too!!!)
A pilot traveling at 250km/hr northward encounters an easterly crosswind of 75km/hr. What is the pilots resulting velocity? If the pilot does not consider this wind, how much off course will he be blown after 1 hour? Velocity is a vector quantity therefore itincludes magnitude and direction!!!