Question

If a car starting from point p,goes to point Q and returns to point p , how much distance has it travelled and what is its displacement

Answer 1

Hi,

Here is your answer

Given:

The car has travelled from P to Q and returned back to Q

To Find:

a)Distance travelled

b)Displacement

Solution:

a)

Let us consider the distance between P and Q as x

Distance travelled from P to Q=x

Distace travelled from Q to P=x

Hence

Total distance travelled=x+x=2x

b)

Displacement is the shortest distance between two points.

Here the starting point and ending point is the same. Hence

Displacement=0

Notes:

1. Displacement can be zero, but distance can never be zero.

2. Distance is a scalar quantity, while displacement is a vector quantity.

Hope this helps you.