Question

Mae ran a distance of 60 meters north from a starting point, turned around and ran 40 meters south, and then turned around again and ran 80 meters north to a stopping point. What is Mae's net displacement?

a. 100 meters south
b. 80 meters north
c. 20 meters north
d. 60 meters south

Answer 1

Mae's net displacement is 100 meters north.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find Mae's net displacement, we need to add up her individual displacements. She ran 60 meters north, so her displacement is +60 meters north. Then she turned around and ran 40 meters south, so her displacement is -40 meters north (south is the opposite direction of north). Finally, she ran 80 meters north, so her displacement is +80 meters north. To find the net displacement, we simply add up these individual displacements: +60 - 40 + 80 = +100 meters north. Therefore, Mae's net displacement is 100 meters north.