Question

A man moves from point A
to point B then to point C
and finally to point D as
shown in the opposite diagram.
Find the distance and
displacement travelled by the man
bC = 30 m
AB = 50 m
​

Answer 1

Distance is (50+30+50)m = 130m

Displacement is 30 m

Answer 2

Distance travelled by the man is 130cm.

Displacement of man is 30 cm.

What is distance?

• Distance is defined as the total path covered by a body in a given time interval.
• It is a scalar quantity which has only magnitude.

What is displacement?

• Displacement is the shortest line joining the initial and final positions of a body.
• It is a vector quantity which has magnitude as well as direction.

From the figure:

• The distance travelled by the man is the total path covered by him from point A to point D i.e. addition of path covered from A to B, B to C and then C to D.

Distance = AB + BC + CD = 50 + 30 + 50 = 130 cm

• Displacement of man is the shortest line joining initial point A and final point D.

Displacement = AD = 30 cm

"Question is missing the diagram. You might be referring to the path shown in the diagram below."