Vectors/physics question!?

A hummingbird flies 1.2 m along a straight path at a height of 3.4m above the ground. Upon spotting a flower below the hummingbird drops directly downward 1.4 to hover in front of the flower. What is the hummingbird’s total displacement?

I tried to make a picture but I am still unsure of how to get the answer!

3 Answers

  • Use the Pythagorean relation.

    One leg of the triangle is 1.2 m (the horizontal component of the displacement); the other is 1.4 m (the vertical component of the displacement).

    The total displacement is then √((1.2 m)² + (1.4 m)²)

    = √(1.44 m² + 1.96 m²)

    = √(3.4 m²)

    = 1.8 m (to two significant figures).

  • why do these people explain this problem so complicated?

    well i like the “picture” that he drew with text

    ignore 3.4m, it’s just redundant

    so it’s just 1.2m length, and 1.4m height

    what is the total displacement? is kinda like what is the hypotenuse?

    a^2 + b^2 = c^2

    length^2 + height^2 = c^2

    solve

  • The hummingbird flies like this.

    Point B 1.2m

    <————————————– Point A

    |

    |

    |

    | 1.4m

    |

    |

    V

    Point C

    Use Pythagoras’s Theorem to find the diagonal distance between Point A and Point C.

    1.4^2 + 1.2^2 = 3.4

    sqrt(3.4) =1.84

    His displacement is 1.84m.

    Hope it helps…

    Skunk

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