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 5.3 km, but when the snow clears, he discovers that he actually traveled 8.3 km at 50° north of due east. (a) How far and (b) in what direction (south of due west) must he now travel to reach base camp?

All the displacement will be converted into vector, considering east as x axis and north as y axis.

5.3 km north

D = 5.3 j

8.3 km at 50 degree north of east

D₁ = 8.3 cos 50 i + 8.3 sin 50 j.

= 5.33 i + 6.36 j

Let D₂ be the displacement which when added to D₁ gives the required displacement D

D₁ + D₂ = D

5.33 i + 6.36 j + D₂ = 5.3 j

D₂ = 5.3 j - 5.33i - 6.36j

= - 5.33i - 1.06 j

magnitude of D₂

D₂² = 5.33² + 1.06²

D₂ = 5.43 km

Angle θ

Tanθ = 1.06 / 5.33

= 0.1988

θ = 11.25 ° south of due west.