A particle moves 3m north, then 4m east, and finally 6m south. Which of the following is correct about the distance travelled and the displacement?

Step 2: We can use the formula

The length of the actual path it has taken is the distance.

The smallest distance between the starting and ending places is called displacement.

Hypotenuse² = Base² + perpendicular² (Pythagoras theorem)

Step 3: Calculating the distance

Distance = 3m + 4m + 6m = 13m

Step 4: Calculating the displacement

Displacement = AB

= √(BC² + AC²)

Substituting the values we get

= √(3² + 4²) m

= 5 m

Displacement and Distance

Displacement and distance are two terms that, while they appear to mean the same thing, have quite different definitions and meanings. Displacement is the measurement of how much space an object has covered while it has been in motion, whereas distance is the indication of how much ground an object has covered during its motion.

As a result, the particle has travelled 13 metres and has moved 5 metres.

Summary:

A particle moves 3m north, then 4m east, and finally 6m south. Which of the following is correct about the distance travelled and the displacement?

A particle moves 3m north, then 4m east and finally 6m south. The distance travelled and the displacement is 13m and 5m. Distance is an object’s overall movement, regardless of direction. Regardless of an object’s starting or ending point, distance can be defined as the amount of ground it has travelled.