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Calculating Displacement: Formula and Methodology

November 21, 2023 by JoyAnswer.org, Category : Physics

How to calculate displacement formula? Explore the formula and methodology used to calculate displacement in various physical scenarios, providing a comprehensive understanding of its calculation.


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Calculating Displacement: Formula and Methodology

How to calculate displacement formula?

Displacement refers to the change in position of an object. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. The formula for calculating displacement depends on whether the motion is one-dimensional or two-dimensional.

One-Dimensional Displacement:

For motion along a straight line (one-dimensional motion), the formula for displacement (Δx\Delta x) is given by:

Δx=xfxi\Delta x = x_f - x_i

Where:

  • Δx\Delta x is the displacement.
  • xfx_f is the final position.
  • xix_i is the initial position.

Two-Dimensional Displacement:

For motion in two dimensions (e.g., horizontal and vertical directions), the displacement (Δr\mathbf{\Delta r}) is a vector quantity and can be calculated using the Pythagorean theorem and trigonometric functions. The formula is:

Δr=(Δx)2+(Δy)2\mathbf{\Delta r} = \sqrt{(\Delta x)^2 + (\Delta y)^2}

Where:

  • Δr\mathbf{\Delta r} is the displacement vector.
  • Δx\Delta x is the horizontal displacement.
  • Δy\Delta y is the vertical displacement.

Additionally, the direction of the displacement vector (θ\theta) can be found using trigonometric functions:

θ=tan1(ΔyΔx)\theta = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{\Delta y}{\Delta x}\right)

Example:

Let's say an object starts at position (2,3)(2, 3) and ends at position (6,8)(6, 8). To calculate the displacement in two dimensions:

Δx=62=4\Delta x = 6 - 2 = 4

Δy=83=5\Delta y = 8 - 3 = 5

Δr=(4)2+(5)2=16+25=41\mathbf{\Delta r} = \sqrt{(4)^2 + (5)^2} = \sqrt{16 + 25} = \sqrt{41}

θ=tan1(54)\theta = \tan^{-1}\left(\frac{5}{4}\right)

So, the displacement is 41\sqrt{41} units at an angle of tan1(54)\tan^{-1}\left(\frac{5}{4}\right) with respect to the horizontal.

Keep in mind that displacement is different from distance traveled. Displacement considers the change in position from the initial to the final point, while distance traveled is the total length of the path taken.

Sure, here are the answers to your questions:

How to calculate displacement formula?

Displacement is a vector quantity that describes the change in position of an object. It is calculated by subtracting the initial position of the object from its final position. The formula for displacement is:

d = Δx = x_f - x_i

where:

  • d is the displacement
  • Δx is the change in position
  • x_f is the final position
  • x_i is the initial position

What is the equation for displacement?

The equation for displacement is the same as the formula for displacement:

d = Δx = x_f - x_i

Can you explain the mathematical equation for displacement?

The mathematical equation for displacement is a simple subtraction. The final position of the object is subtracted from its initial position to find the change in position. The change in position is a vector quantity, which means that it has both magnitude and direction. The magnitude of the displacement is the distance between the initial and final positions of the object. The direction of the displacement is the direction from the initial position to the final position of the object.

Here is an example of how to calculate displacement using the formula:

Suppose an object starts at position (2, 3) and ends up at position (5, 7). The displacement of the object is:

d = Δx = x_f - x_i = (5, 7) - (2, 3) = (3, 4)

The magnitude of the displacement is:

||d|| = √(3^2 + 4^2) = √25 = 5

The direction of the displacement is:

θ = arctan(4/3) ≈ 53°

Therefore, the displacement of the object is 5 units at an angle of 53 degrees from the positive x-axis.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Tags Displacement Calculation , Formula Explanation

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