Question

A race car drives one lap around a race track that is 500 meters in length.

a. What is the driver’s displacement at the end of the lap?

b. How is his displacement different from the distance traveled?

Answer 1

Answer:

a) 0

Explanation:

A) since he is going around a race track, his initial position is 0m, and his ending position is also 0m, so his displacement is 0. Yes, his distance is 500m, but his displacement is 0, and he did not end up going anywhere for his final position.

B) Distance is total amount traveled, which in this case is 500m, but displacement is 0 as he did not change his position.