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An object moves from point A to point B to point C then back to point B and then to point C along the line shown in the figure below. a) Find the distance covered by the moving object. b) Find the magnitude and direction of the displacement of the object.

a) 1km
b) 2km
c) 3km
d) 4km

User Matiasfha
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1 Answer

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Final answer:

The distance covered by the object is 4 km. The magnitude of the displacement is √2 km and the direction is 45° counterclockwise from the positive x-axis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Let's analyze the path from point A to point B to point C and then back to point B and finally to point C. To find the distance covered by the moving object, we need to sum up the distances between each consecutive pair of points. From A to B, the object covers a distance of 1 km. From B to C, it covers another 1 km. Then, it travels back from C to B, covering 1 km again. Finally, it moves from B to C, covering 1 km. So, the total distance covered by the object is 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4 km.

To find the magnitude and direction of the displacement, we only need to consider the starting and ending points. The object starts at A and ends at C. The displacement is the straight-line distance between these two points. To calculate this, we can use the Pythagorean theorem. Let's assume the distance from A to C is d. Using the theorem, we have:

d^2 = (1 km)^2 + (1 km)^2 = 2 km^2

d = √(2) = √2 km

Therefore, the magnitude of the displacement is √2 km. To find the direction, we can use trigonometry. Let's assume the angle between the displacement vector and the positive x-axis is θ. Since the displacement vector forms a right triangle with the x-axis, we can use the tangent function to find θ. Let's consider the side opposite to the angle (1 km) and the side adjacent to the angle (1 km). We have:

tan(θ) = opposite/adjacent = 1 km / 1 km = 1

θ = arctan(1) = 45°

Therefore, the displacement is √2 km along a direction 45° counterclockwise from the positive x-axis.

User TechBeginner
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