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Displacement is a measure of how far an object has moved from its original position in a straight line. It's a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. In the context of the elephant seal, its overall displacement is the direct distance from where it started to where it ended, regardless of the path taken.

When determining displacement, the direction is essential, as it affects how we describe the end position relative to the start. In this exercise, the displacement is calculated by considering both the downward and eastward movements. These movements form the two legs of a right triangle, leading directly to the calculation of the hypotenuse as the total displacement.

A right triangle is a type of triangle that has one angle measuring 90 degrees. It consists of two legs and a hypotenuse, which is the longest side opposite the right angle.

In this exercise, when the seal dives 750 meters down and then moves 460 meters east, these two movements form the legs of a right triangle. The displacement of the seal becomes the hypotenuse. This arrangement is essential for applying the Pythagorean Theorem, which we'll explore next.

The hypotenuse is the longest side of a right triangle, opposite the right angle. It's the straight-line distance connecting the two endpoints of the legs.

To find the hypotenuse in this situation, we apply the Pythagorean Theorem, which helps us calculate this distance when the lengths of the other two sides are known. By squaring each leg, adding these squares, and then taking the square root, we find the hypotenuse. This gives the seal’s total displacement as approximately 879.75 meters.

• Formula: The theorem is expressed as \( c^2 = a^2 + b^2 \).
• In the seal's case: \( a = 750 \text{ m} \), \( b = 460 \text{ m} \).

Vector addition is the process of combining two or more vectors to determine a resultant vector. When dealing with vectors, such as displacement, both magnitude and direction matter.

In this exercise, the seal's downward and eastward movements are vectors. By arranging them at right angles, they provide a complete picture of the seal’s path. When these vectors are added, they give the hypotenuse of the triangle, providing the resultant vector which is the overall displacement.

• Think of each movement (750 m down and 460 m east) as arrows pointing in different directions.
• The resultant vector, or displacement, can be found using the geometric method applied here.