Question

Now you try! Draw the arrows to represent the motion described, then calculate the distance
and displacement for the object.
A car drives 12 meters North and 15 meters South What is the car's distance and
displacement​

Answer 1

Answer:

Distance = 27m

Displacement = 3 metres South

Explanation:

Distance is a scalar quantity and it represents the length of the path taken by a body.

Displacement is a vector quantity and it represents the distance between the start and end points of a body.

Now to the question:

The car drives 12 metres North i.e

North  (+ve)

∧

 |

 |  12m

 |

 |

The car then drives 15 metres South i.e

 |

 |

 |

 | 15m

 |

∨

South (-ve)

(a) The car's distance d, is just the total distance covered to drive North and then South. i.e

d = 12m + 15m = 27m

(b) The car's displacement D, however takes into respect, the direction of the car as it drives to and fro.

Let North be taken as positive direction

Let South be taken as negative direction.

This means that;

12 m North = +12 m

15 m South = -15m

Therefore;

D = +12 - 15

D = -3m

Since the displacement is negative, then it means that the direction of the total displacement is South.

Therefore, the displacement is 3 metres South

PS: The arrow diagram has also been attached to this response