Question

A squirrel starts at a spot on the ground just below a bird feeder. The squirrel moves $10m$ north, then $7m$ west, then $6m$ south, then $4m$ east.
Where does the squirrel end up, relative to the spot where he started?

• A. $7m$ away at some angle northwest
• B. $6m$ away at some angle northwest
• C. $5m$ away at some angle northwest
• D. $4m$ away at some angle northwest
• E. $3m$ away at some angle northwest

Answer 1

The correct option is C $5m$ away at some angle northwest

Net displacement of the squirrel $S=(4-7)\hat{i}+(10-6)\hat{j}=-3\hat{i}+4\hat{j}$

$⟹$ $|S|=\sqrt{(-3{)}^2+4^2}=\sqrt{25}=5$ m at some angle along northwest