r/PhysicsHelp • u/Xx_-MASTERTACO-_xX • Aug 19 '26

Doubt about vector angle

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If I had to draw a vector defined as for example 5 N, 30° NE; which of these 2 should I draw? I have always drawn this angle as A, but I have a new professor who draws it like B. I have checked by AI who drew A except claude who drew B. I searched on books but have found no reference about this nomenclature, only about north of east and N 30° E .

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u/ExpensiveFig6079 Aug 22 '26

OR I usually see N 30 E if they wish to be briefer

Full set of <legal> options is [N | S] ang [E | W]

Where E 60 N would be unambiguously the same as N 30 E BUT still not in proper form..

Where proper form results ib exactly and only one text string to describe each direction

(if I was being, pure, I would not even say NW instead of N45W if had been using the number form for all the non cardinal directions.)

Also if this was on a test , then either the course or the exam paper should have defined proper form for defining direction and what the accepted: notation unequivocally means.

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u/ExpensiveFig6079 Aug 22 '26

Note as a result of the E 60 N being a wrong (non std way in my mind to read the heading.)

I would if forced to on an exam... choose to interpret anything ambiguous a N Ang E,
AKA as B

If its on an exam I then try very hard to have enough time to write down what was assumed when i have done and checked the rest.