Final answer:
The net displacement for a 10,000-m runner on a 400-m track can be zero if the runner finishes at the starting point, as displacement is a vector quantity describing the shortest path from start to finish, not the total distance covered.
Step-by-step explanation:
When considering the question of net displacement for a 10,000-meter runner on a 400-meter track, it is important to understand the difference between distance and displacement. Although the runner travels a total distance of 10,000 meters, the net displacement, which is the vector quantity that represents the shortest path between the starting and finishing points, could indeed be zero if the runner ends at the same point where they started. Displacement takes into account only the initial and final positions and not the path traveled.
In this scenario, since the track is circular, and assuming the runner finishes at the exact starting point, the net displacement would be option (c) 0 m. The distance traveled is a scalar quantity that merely tallies the total path covered, without considering the direction. Therefore, the perimeter of the race track is the distance the runner covers with each lap, but it is not the same as displacement.
So, the correct answer to the question is: c) 0 m - The displacement is zero because the track is circular and the runner finishes at the starting point, which results in no change in position.