Concept explainers
How the quantities such as distance travelled, displacement and displacement magnitude differ.
Answer to Problem 1CQ
Distance travelled is a scalar quantity which is equal to total length of the path travelled. Displacement is a vector quantity which have both magnitude and direction and its magnitude is equal to the shortest distance between initial and final position.
Explanation of Solution
Distance is a scalar quantity which have only magnitude. Distance is defined as the total path length travelled. It is not necessary to mention the direction. Whereas displacement is a vector quantity which required both magnitude and direction to represent. Magnitude of displacement is the shortest distance between initial and final point. Also displacement is also equal to straight-line distance between initial and final point. The direction of displacement points towards final point from initial point.
The displacement of an object can be zero if the object is reached at initial point after travel. But distance cannot be zero. Therefore displacement is less than or equal to total distance travelled.
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