Question

calculate distance and displacement covered when an ant goes from A to B through C and back to A

Answer 1

Answer

• Distance is " how much the object moves "
• Displacement is " Shortest distance between final and initial positions "

Here an ant goes moves from A to B through C and back to A

Let the distance from A to C is " x " and C to B is " y "

so C to A is also " x " and B to C is also " y "

So , Total Distance , D = A to C + C to B + B to C + C to A

=> D = x + y + y + x

=> D = 2x + 2y

=> D = 2 ( x + y )

So total distance is 2(x+y)

Now Displacement , d = Final point - Initial point

=> d = (A to C + C to B)-(B to C + C to A)

=> d = ( x + y ) - ( y + x )

=> d = x + y - y - x

=> d = 0

So displacement is  ' 0 ' .