Final answer:
The formulas for distance and displacement are used to calculate the total travel and change in position of an object. In the given scenarios, the distance and displacement of riding a bicycle are explained with examples.
Step-by-step explanation:
The formulas for distance and displacement are:
Distance = |final position - initial position|
Displacement = final position - initial position
In the scenario where you ride your bicycle down a straight road for 300 m and then turn around and ride back to your starting point, the distance traveled is 300 m + 300 m = 600 m. The displacement, however, is 0 m since you end up back at your starting point.
On the other hand, if you ride your bicycle down a straight road for 500 m North and then turn around and ride back 200 m South, the distance traveled is 500 m + 200 m = 700 m. The displacement is 300 m North since it accounts for the change in position from the starting point to the final position.