Given:
A position-time graph for a ball moving in a tube.
To find:
1) The displacement of the ball between 12 s and 24 s.
2) The distance traveled by the ball between 12 s and 24 s.
Explanation:
Displacement: A displacement of an object depends on its initial and final point of motion.
At 12 s, the ball's position reads 0 meters which is its initial position.
At 24 s, the ball's position reads 0 meters which is its final position.
Now, the displacement of the ball is calculated as:
Displacement = final position - initial position
Displacement = 0 m - 0 m
Displacement = 0 m
Distance: A distance covered by an object is the length of the actual path followed by the object during its motion.
The interval of 12 s to 24 s can be broken into two intervals, 12 s to 16 s and 16 s to 24 s.
For an interval of 12 s to 16 s, a ball travels a distance of 15 meters in the opposite (say left) direction, and for an interval of 16 s to 24 s, a ball travlels a distance of 15 meters in the right direction. Thus, the total distance it travels is 30 meters.
Final answer:
1) The ball's displacement between 12 s to 24 s is 0 meters.
2) The distance traveled by the ball between 12 s to 24 s is 30 meters.
