Question

An explorer is caught in a whiteout (in which the snowfall is so thick that the ground cannot be distinguished from the sky) while returning to base camp. He was supposed to travel due north for 5.1 km, but when the snow clears, he discovers that he actually traveled 8.3 km at 53^o north of due east. (a) How far and (b) in what direction (south of due west) must he now travel to reach base camp?

Answer 1

Solution:

Let the man starts from the point O. He has to reach the point A.

From triangle law of vector addition:

Part a:
He should travel 5.22km.

Part B:
He should travel in a direction south of west.