Question

Two soccer players kick a soccer ball back and forth along a straight line. The first player kicks the ball 16 m to the right to the second player. The second player kicks the ball to the left weakly; it only moves 3.1 m before stopping. (Consider the right to be the positive direction. Where applicable, indicate the direction with the sign of your answer. All distances are in meters.)

Answer 1

Answer:

a

The total distance is $d_t =19.1 m$

b

The displacement is

  $D_t = 12.9m$

Explanation:

From the question we are told that

        Distance traveled by the ball for first player $d_f = 16m$ to the right

        Distance  traveled by the ball for second player $d_s = 3.1 m$ to the left

       

The total distance traveled by the ball is mathematically represented as

                   $d_t = d_f + d_s$

Substituting values

                  $d_t = 16 + 3.1$

                  $d_t =19.1 m$

The displacement is mathematically represented as

              $D_t = d_f -d_s$

This is because displacement deal with direction and from the question we are told that right is positive and left is negative

          Substituting values  

                $D_t = 16 -3.1$

                 $D_t = 12.9m$