Question

A car travels north for 20 km. the car then travels south for 35 km. If north is taken as the positive direction, what is the displacement of the car?

○ 15 km
○ 55 km
○ -15 km
○ -55 km

Answer 1

-15 km

Explanation:

Answer 2

The displacement of the car is -15 km, since it traveled 20 km north and then 35 km south. The displacement is the total change in position, so it is the difference between the final and initial positions. In this case, the car ends up 15 km south of its starting position, so the displacement is -15 km.