Question

Micah jogs 15 m north, turns around and travels 38 m south, turns around again and travels 8 m north.

What is Micah's displacement?

Answer 1

Micah's displacement is the straight-line distance from his starting point to his final position, which is calculated by adding his movements vectorially. His displacement is 15 meters to the south from his starting point.

Step-by-step explanation:

Micah's displacement is the straight-line distance from his starting point to his final position, regardless of the path taken. To find this, we can add his movements vectorially. Micah jogs 15 m north, then 38 m south, and finally 8 m north. The total displacement can be calculated as follows:

Displacement = 15 m north - 38 m south + 8 m north

Displacement = 15 m north - 38 m + 8 m north

Displacement = 15 m + 8 m - 38 m

Displacement = 23 m - 38 m

Displacement = -15 m

The negative sign indicates that Micah's displacement is 15 meters to the south from his starting point.