Final answer:
The incorrect statement is C, which says displacement can be larger than distance. Displacement, which is a vector quantity, cannot be greater than distance, a scalar quantity representing the total path length. The distance equals the magnitude of displacement only in a direct, straight-line path.
Step-by-step explanation:
The incorrect statement about distance and displacement is C. Displacement can be larger than distance. This is not true because displacement is a vector quantity that specifies the change in position of an object, represented by a straight line between the starting and ending points, while distance is a scalar quantity that represents the total path length traveled, without regard to direction. Therefore, displacement can never be greater than the distance traveled; it can be equal to or less than the distance.
Distance traveled equals the magnitude of displacement only when the motion is in a straight line without changing direction. In this case, the magnitude of displacement and the displacement are the same because the path taken between two points is the direct path, which defines the displacement.
An example would be when someone walks directly from point A to point B. If the person does not change direction and travels in a straight path, the distance traveled will exactly equal the magnitude of displacement. However, if the person were to move back and forth before reaching point B, the distance traveled would be greater than both displacement and its magnitude.