Question

An object moves from point A to B, C, and D finally, along a rectangle. (a) Find the magnitude and direction of the displacement vector of the object? (b) Find the distance traveled by that object? (c) Suppose the object returns to the point A, its initial position. Now, Find the displacement and distance?

Answer 1

Answer:

for part a) the magnitude of the displacement vector is just equal to AD and the direction is from A to D. for part b) Distance traveled is equal to the length of the path ABCD. for part c) Displacement in this case will be zero and distance will be length of the path ABCDA

Explanation:

Displacement is a vector. which means that it has a direction and a magnitude(length of the vector). The magnitude of the displacement is how far away you are from the starting point. To make it simple imagine you travel a circle starting from point A and you end up at  A again. the displacement is zero but the distance traveled is the circumference of the circle