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Bearing is used to give direction in aviation. It is defined as a positive angle from 0 to 360 measured clockwise with
respect to the north.(see in figure 1 examples below)
Magnetic Compass
Magnetic compass was used by sailors to give directions. Using the four cardinal points of a compass, a direction is given
as an angle of rotation from one cardinal to another.
Examples are given in figure 2 below. Example on the left, the direction "W 30° N" is the angle of rotation of 30°, from
West to North. Example on the right, the direction "N 60° E" is the angle of rotation of 60° from North to East.
Find the components of vector OA where O is the origin of the system of rectangular axes and A is a point 20 units away
from the origin at a bearing of 30°.
Solution to Question 1
Ax = 10 cos(60°) = 5
Ay = 10 sin(60°) = 5 √3
Question 2
A ship traveled a distance of 50 km from port O at a bearing of 120°, then another 100 km to port B at a bearing of 200 °.
What is the distance between ports O and B?
Solution to Question 2
OB = V1 + V2
Hence: OB 2 = V1 2 + V2 2 + 2V1·V2
V1·V2 = V1 V2 cos (θ), where is the angle between V1 and V2 as shown in figure 2 and is equal to?
Hence
OB 2 = 50 2 + 100 2 + 2 (50)(100)cos(80°)
Question 3
Point A is 20 units away from the origin in the direction "N 30° W" and point B is 30 units away from the origin in the
direction "S 58° W". Find the components of vector AB.
Solution to Question 3
Fig5. - Diagram for question 3.
AB = AO + OB
= ( 20 cos(120°) , 20 sin(120°) )
OB = ( 30 cos(θ2) , 30 sin(θ2) )
= 30 cos(-148°) , 30 sin(-148°) )
Note that
= (-15.44 , -33.21)
Question 4
Find the components of a unit vector U whose direction is along the bearing of 30°.
Solution to Question 4
The direction of the unit vector U is along the bearing of 30°. Therefore the angle between vector U and the positive x-
axis is 60°. Hence the components of vector U are given by
Uy = (1) sin(60°) = √3 / 2
Question 5
An object moves from the origin O to point A to B and finally stops at point C (see figure below). The distances covered
are: OA = 10 cm, AB = 12 cm and BC = 20 cm. The directions are given by the bearings as follows: 120° from O to A ,
180° from A to B and 250° from B to C .Find the distance from O to C.
Solution to Question 5
OC = OA + AB + BC
The components of vector OC are given by the sum of the components of the 3 vectors OA, AB and BC
= 25.46