Question

A lad, waiting for his friend walks in the sidewalk, in front of her house, from the front door, first, he moves towards the Positive x-axis, 5 m, then goes back, 6 m. What is his total displacement from his original position? Displacement is a vector quantity whilst, distance is a scalar quantity.

Answer 1

His total displacement from his original position is -1 m

We know that total displacement of an object from a position x to a position x', d = final position - initial position.

d = x' - x

If we assume the lad's initial position in front of her house is x = 0 m. The lad then moves towards the positive x-axis, 5 m. He then ends up at x' = 5 m. He then finally goes back 6 m.

Since displacement = final position - initial position, and his displacement is d' = -6 m (since he moves in the negative x - direction or moves back) from his initial position of x' = 5 m.

His final position, x" after moving back 6 m is gotten from

x" - x' = -6 m

x" = -6 + x'

x" = -6 + 5

x" = -1 m

Thus, his total displacement from his original position is

d = final position - initial position

d = x" - x

d = -1 m - 0 m

d = -1 m

So, his total displacement from his original position is -1 m

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