Question

A person stepped out of his house and started walking. He moved 40 m due East, then 10 m due South, then 20 m due East, then 20 m due South and then she finally walked 6000 km due West. Now, in which direction and how much should he move, so that his displacement is zero?

Answer 1

Answer:

40 m due East

10 m due South

20 m due East

20 m due South

6000 km due West or 6000000 m due west

[ You can refer figure attached ]

We need to make the person's displacement 0 so, we need to make him reach at the place from where he started.

Now the distance marked as x,

x = 10 + 20 = 30 m as it is parallel with the distance as in figure.

And distance marked as y,

y = 6000000 - 60 = 5999940 m as it is parallel with the distance in figure.

After the person has traveled 6000 km or  6000000 m due west,

Person will move 30 m due north

And, Person will move 5999940 m due east.

By this, person will be able to make displacement 0.

Answer 2

Travel 30m North, and then travel 5940m East

Explanation:

Note: There is an error in the question. The 6000 Km west should actually be 6000 m west in line with the other distances given in the question. Please find solution based on these numbers.

Given: He moved 40 m due East, then 10 m due South, then 20 m due East, then 20 m due South and then she finally walked 6000 km due West

Find: In which direction and how much should he move, so that his displacement is zero?

Solution:

For displacement to be zero, he should reach him home again.

Please refer to the attached picture to know the direction and distance he traveled.

Now from his point in the west, he can travel North and East to reach his home again.

Towards the North, he will need to cover distance = 10 + 20 = 30 m

Towards East, he will need to cover distance = 6000 - 40 - 20 = 5940 m

So total distance he has to travel back = 5940 + 30 = 5970m