Question

Please help!!!!

1. If you move 5 meters East and 5 meters west what is the distance and what is the displacement?

2.if you move 5 meters south and move 2 meters north what is the distance and what is the displacement?


3. If you move 10 meters west and move 3 meters East
What is the distance and what is the displacement?

Answer 1

1) dist 10m, displacement 0m

2) dist 7m, displacement 3m

3) dist 13m, displacement 7m

Step-by-step explanation:

Distance is the total distance travelled (2 distances added), but displacement is where you end up relative to where you started.

Think of it like a number line. When you move east, you are adding 5, and when you move west, you are subtracting 5. In total, you have walked 10 meters, but overall you ended up in the same place.

If you want to have a physical demonstration of this concept, take 5 steps left and 5 steps right, and do the same with the other examples. You will probably get a fuller understanding of this concept.