Question

A man walks 10 km north, then turns right and walks 5 km, then turns right again and walks 10 km. In which direction is he now facing, and how far is he from the starting point?

• A. South, 5 km
• B. West, 10 km
• C. East, 10 km
• D. East, 5 km

Hint:

Use basic direction rules and visualize movements on a coordinate axis to solve direction sense problems effectively.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

To determine the man's final position, we must track his movements using directional and distance principles.

1. Core Principles:

- Orientation: Changes in direction (e.g., turning right from North results in facing East).
- Net Displacement: The straight-line distance from start to finish, calculated using methods like the Pythagorean theorem where applicable.
- Path Reconstruction: Visualizing or plotting each segment of the journey sequentially.

2. Recorded Movements:

- Initial movement: 10 km North.
- Subsequent turn: Rightward (facing East), travel 5 km.
- Final turn: Rightward (facing South), travel 10 km.

3. Route Analysis:

- Segment 1: From origin, 10 km North.
- Segment 2: Turns East, covers 5 km.
- Segment 3: Turns South, covers 10 km. This movement cancels out the initial Northward displacement, leaving him horizontally aligned with the starting point but offset East.

4. Final State:

- Current Facing Direction: South.
- Distance from Origin: 5 km (purely Eastward displacement).

Conclusion:

The man is now oriented South and is located 5 km from his initial position.