Final answer:
The CVLCC cross country team's total distance run is 12 km, while the displacement is 2 km North, as they returned to their original east-west position and ended up 2 km North of their starting point.
Step-by-step explanation:
To determine the distance and displacement for the entire run by the CVLCC cross country team, we must consider the paths taken during the run. The team runs 4 km East, 2 km South, 4 km West, and finally 2 km North. Distance is a scalar quantity that represents the total path length traveled, while displacement is a vector quantity that represents the change in position from the start to the end point, direction included.
The distance is simply the sum of all the distances traveled in each direction, which in this case is 4 km + 2 km + 4 km + 2 km, totaling 12 km. To find the displacement, we look at the net change in position. The team returns to its original east-west position after running east and then west for the same distance (4 km each way). However, they do not return to their original north-south position, as they end 2 km North from where they started. Therefore, their final displacement is simply the 2 km they are North of their starting position.