When is the distance an object travels exactly equal to the size of its displacement?
Contributed by StemPy LabTry it on paper first. A hint, the key idea and the worked solution are here when you need them.
When is the distance an object travels exactly equal to the size of its displacement? Explain, and test your rule: walk east, then west.
Need a reminder? The key ideaShow
Distance is the length of the whole path; it has no direction and never decreases. Displacement is the straight line from start to end, with a direction. On a straight road use signs; for a right-angle turn, displacement .
The worked solution
Have you tried it?
Work it out on paper first. It is fine to get stuck or make a mistake: that is how we learn. When you are ready, go through the solution one step at a time, and check each step against your own.
Step 1. The rule. They are equal only for motion along a straight line that never reverses.
Step 2. The test. Distance ; displacement . The walk turned back, so they differ.
Answer: Only for straight-line motion in one direction; here against .
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