Question

NCERT CLASS IX - Science Textbook
Chapter 8 - Motion

Which of the following is true for displacement?

(a) It cannot be zero.
(b) Its magnitude is greater than the distance travelled by the object.

Answer 1

both are false.

     Displacement can be zero if the body or object remains stationary,  or the object travels in a circle or a curve or in a straight line forward and traces back the path to initial position.

   Magnitude of the displacement is always less than the magnitude of the distance traveled by the object.    Displacement can be negative or positive.  Distance is always positive.  So when displacements are added using the vector addition formula,  the resulting displacement magnitude is always less than sum of two individual displacements.   

However, total distance is always the sum of the individual distances traveled.

Answer 2

Answer :-

Neither of the statements are true. Statement (a) is false because the displacement of an object which travels a certain distance and comes back to its initial position is zero. Statement (b) is false because the displacement of an object can be equal to, but never greater than the distance traveled.