Question

An ostrich is running at a speed of 17.0 m/s in a direction of 68.0 degrees north of west. what is the magnitude of the ostrich velocity component that is directed (a) due north and (b) due west?

Answer 1

speed is 17.0 m/s in a direction of 68.0 degrees north of west
then,
the west component can be calculated using,
cos68, ie: adjuscent side(Velocity due west)/hypotenuse(17)

cos68=Velocity due west/17
Velocity due west=17cos68=6.368m/s along west
same way is used to find Velocity due north(angle will become (90-68)degrees if you are using cos
Velocity due north=17cos(90-68)=15.762 m/s due north

Answer 2

Above user is correct. West can be treated as the positive x axis, and north as the positive y. Then just use trig.

Answer 3

careful danny - if West is the positive x, North would be the negative y - West would have to be negative x for North to be positive y

Answer 4

west=17cos68
north=17sin68
now Stan is it compulsary that north should negative y if west is positive x.
cant we rotate the axis and make west positive y and north positive x

Answer 5

of course george7, but you can't rotate the axis to make west positive x and north positive y