Distance is 33 km, displacement is 3 km east
Explanation:
- Distance is a scalar quantity equal to the total length of the path covered by an object during its motion, regardless of its direction.
- Displacement is a vector connecting the starting position of motion of an object to its final position. It is a vector quantity, therefore it has both magnitude and direction.
In this problem, the motion of the person is:
12 km north
6 km east
12 km south
3 km west
Therefore, the distance is:
The displacement instead can be calculated by comparing the final position with the initial position. We notice that:
- the person goes 12 km north and 12 km south, so he didn't move in the north-direction
- The person goes 6 km east and 3 km west, so his final position is 3 km east
Therefore, the displacement is 3 km east.
Learn more about distance and displacement:
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