Question

A helicopter flies 250 km on a straight path in a direction 60° south of east. The east component of the helicopter’s displacement is km.

Answer 1

Given that,

Distance in south-west direction = 250 km

Projected angle to east = 60°

East component = ?

since,

cos ∅ = base/hypotenuse

base= hyp * cos ∅

East component = 250 * cos 60°

East component = 125 km

Answer 2

Answer:

125km

Explanation:

the east component is given by the cosine function of the given angle.

because of the triangle that is formed between the east component end the south-east component

$cos\theta=\frac{adjacent Leg}{hypotenuse}$

in this case the angle is: $\theta =60$

the adyacent Leg is the east component $Ec$

and the hypotenuse: $d=250km$

so:

$cos60=\frac{Ec}{250km}$

we clear for the east component:

$Ec=(250km)(cos60)\\Ec=(250km)(0.5)\\Ec=125km$

you can see the the triangle in the attached image, where the blue line is the east component