Question

If someone told you that they traveled 50 km east, are they describing the distance they traveled or their displacement? How do you know? *

Answer 1

They are describing their displacement

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct answer would be that they are describing their displacement.

Distance is a scalar quantity while displacement is a vector quantity. A scalar quantity only has magnitude without any indication of the direction while a vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.

Hence, if someone travels 50 km east, the distance they covered is only 50 km while the displacement is 50 km in the eastward direction.