Question

An object has moved through a
distance. Can it have zero
displacement? If yes, support
your answer with an example.​

Answer 1

Solution -

Yes . This situation can be possible when an object can move through a distance and yet have zero displacement .

For example , first let us consider the situation of a body moving in a circular path .

Here , suppose that the body completes a complete round around the circular path and returns to innitial position .

Now , to go a complete round around the circular path , it has to move though a distance .

But , it has returned to it's innitial position .

So , there is no net displacement .

There can be several other examples as well then an object has moved through a certain distance , but has 0 displacement .

For example , a car moving from a point A to B and coming back to A .

AddiTiOnaL Information -

Equations of motion -

V = U + at

S = ut + ½ a t²

V² = U² + 2as

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Answer 2

$\: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: { \underline{ \underline{ \mathfrak{Question}}}}$

An object has moved through a

distance. Can it have zero

displacement? If yes, support

your answer with an example.

___________________

$\: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: \: { \underline{ \underline{ \mathfrak{Answer}}}}$

➡ Yes, if object has moved through a distance, it surely can has zero displacement.

As displacement is a vector quantity depending on starting and ending position not on the path.

And we know that displacement is the shortest distance between two points that is

if a person has moved a distance of 20 m and comes back to his original place by moving back 20m in such a case distance moved by the person is 40m but his displacement is 0 as shortest distance covered by him is 0 as he is in his original place .

${ \mathfrak{ \underline{Other \: examples}}}$

• 1 circle of motion has distance 2πR but 0 displacement.

• If an object travels from point A and reaches to the same point A, then its displacement is zero.

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