Question

An object moves 5.0 m north and then 3.0 m south. Find both the distance traveled and the magnitude of the displacement vector.

Answer 1

The total distance traveled by the object is 8.0 m, and the magnitude of its displacement vector is 2.0 m north.

Step-by-step explanation:

An object that moves 5.0 m north and then 3.0 m south has traveled a total distance of 8.0 m (the sum of absolute distances covered in both directions). However, the magnitude of the displacement vector is the straight-line distance from the starting point to the final position, which in this case is 2.0 m north (5.0 m - 3.0 m).