Question

55. Cars A car moves 65 km due east then 45 km due
west. What is its total
displacement?

Answer 1

Answer: The total displacement of the car is 20 km West.

Step-by-step explanation:

This is because it moved 65 km East and then 45 km West, which effectively cancels out 65-45 = 20 km of the Eastward movement.

It does not matter how much distance the car covered in total, it only matters the net distance it moved in a certain direction.

Answer 2

A car moves 65 km due east and then 45 km due west. The car has traveled 65 km east and 45 km west, so it has covered a total distance of 65 + 45 = 110 km.

However, the displacement is the final point minus the initial point and not the total distance traveled. In this case, the car has traveled 65 km east and 45 km west, so it is back to its initial point. Therefore, its total displacement is 0 km.