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A truck travels due east for a distance of 1.7 km, turns around and goes due west for 6.6 km, and finally turns around again and travels 2.8 km due east.

(a) What is the total distance that the truck travels?
(b) What are the magnitude and direction of the truck's displacement?

User Kazoom
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1 Answer

6 votes

Final answer:

The total distance traveled by the truck is 11.1 km. The magnitude of the truck's displacement is 1.9 km, and its direction is due west.

Step-by-step explanation:

To answer the student's question regarding the truck's travel:

(a) Total distance traveled by the truck

The total distance that the truck travels is found by adding all the distances covered in each direction: 1.7 km east + 6.6 km west + 2.8 km east. The total distance traveled is:

1.7 km + 6.6 km + 2.8 km = 11.1 km

(b) Magnitude and direction of the truck's displacement

Displacement is the difference between the final and initial positions. Since east is considered positive and west negative, we calculate the displacement as:

(1.7 km + 2.8 km) - 6.6 km = 4.5 km - 6.6 km = -1.9 km

The negative sign indicates the displacement is towards the west. Thus, the magnitude of the displacement is 1.9 km, and the direction is due west.

User Prateek Varshney
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