Question

Johnny walked to the other side of his building using the following steps: 10 meters North, 20 meters to the West, 40 meters South. What is Johnny's distance and displacement?

Answer 1

Answer:

  Distance traveled = 70 meters

  Displacement = 36.06 meters

Explanation:

 Let north be positive Y and east be positive X

 10 meters north, displacement = 10 j meters

 20 meters west, displacement = -20 i meters

 40 meters south, displacement = -40 j meters

 Total displacement = (10 j - 20 i – 40 j) meters = (- 20 i - 30 j) meters

 Magnitude of displacement = $\sqrt{20^2+30^2}=\sqrt{1300}= 36.06 meters$

 Distance traveled = 10+20+40 = 70 meters