Question

Sarah and Maisie are analysing data from their school sports day. Looking at the 1500 m results for Stephen, Maisie believes that Stephen’s displacement from the start line is 1500 m. Sarah says that she is incorrect and that his displacement from the start is actually 0 m. Which of the students is correct? Give reasoning for your answer.

Answer 1

Sarah is right

Step-by-step explanation:

This is an exercise that differentiates between scalars and vectors.

A scalar is a number, instead a vector is a number that represents the module in addition to direction and sense.

In this case, the distance (scalar) traveled is a number, which is why it is worth 1500m, but the displacement is a vector and since the point where it leaves is the same point where the vector's modulus arrives is zero, so the DISPLACEMENT VECTOR is zero

consequently Sarah is right