Question

if a car travels 30 miles north for one half hour, 50 miles east for one hour, and 30 miles south for 30 minutes, what is the total displacement of the car?

Answer 1

Since we're given the distances, we don't need the times.

(30 miles north) + (30 miles south) = zero vertical displacement

The total displacement after this grueling 2 hours of driving is 50 miles east .

Answer 2

50 miles east. because the 30 miles north then south cancel each other out.