Question

Starting from the orgin, a person walks 4 km East during the first day and 7 km west the next day. What is the net displacement of the person from the initial point in two days

Answer 1

The net displacement of a person who walks 4 km East and then 7 km West is 3 km towards the West, which is the difference in displacement between the two directions.

Step-by-step explanation:

Net Displacement Calculation:

A person who walks 4 km East on the first day and then 7 km West on the second day will have a net displacement of 3 km towards the West from the initial point after two days. This is because displacement is a vector quantity that not only has magnitude but also direction. To calculate the net displacement, you subtract the Eastward displacement from the Westward displacement since they are in opposite directions: 7 km West - 4 km East = 3 km West as the net displacement.

While the total distance traveled by the person is the sum of the magnitudes of each day’s journey, which is 4 km + 7 km = 11 km, the displacement focuses only on the change in position from the starting point to the ending point without considering the path taken.

Answer 2

3km due West

Step-by-step explanation:

Displacement is the distance traveled in a specific direction. From this definition, we can see that displacement is a vector quantity that has magnitude and direction.

So;

For the first day, the person walks 4km East:

4km

Start ----------------------------→ first day

7km

← ------------------------------------------------------ Second day

The displacement of the boy = 7km - 4km = 3km due West