Concept explainers
Give an example in which there are clear distinctions among distance traveled, displacement, and magnitude of displacement. Specifically identify each quantity in your example.

An example consisting of clear distinctions among distance traveled, displacement, and magnitude of displacement.
Explanation of Solution
Introduction:
The distance traveled by the student is the total lengthof the path traveled between two positions and the distance is the magnitude of displacement. Note that the distance traveled and the distance are both scalars, that is,just numbers with a length unit. The student’s displacement is the difference between the final and initial position of the student. Since the displacement is a vector, we will have to specify not only its magnitude but direction as well (east / right, west / left, north / up, south / down).
A student walking to her school which is 2 km east from her starting point, then she is moving back 1 km to west from her school.
Let’s start calculating the distance traveled by the student. The student walks 2 km to east, then walks 1 km to west from the school, thus the total length of the path traveled between the initial and final position is
Consider East to be positive x-axis.
So, the student’s displacement is
The student’s displacement is
Finally, the magnitude of displacement is the distance
Conclusion:
The student’s displacement is 1 km to the east and the distance is 3 km.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 2 Solutions
College Physics
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Physics for Scientists and Engineers: A Strategic Approach, Vol. 1 (Chs 1-21) (4th Edition)
Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology (5th Edition)
Introductory Chemistry (6th Edition)
Campbell Essential Biology (7th Edition)
Chemistry: Structure and Properties (2nd Edition)
Chemistry: The Central Science (14th Edition)
- Suppose you have a diverging lens with a focal length of - 25 cm. You look through this lens at a sleeping squirrel, and notice that it forms a virtual image of the squirrel with di = - 18 cm. How far away from the lens is the squirrel? Give your answer as the number of centimeters (a positive number).arrow_forwardDiamond has an index of refraction of about 2.4. Suppose you cut a diamond so it has a flat surface, and shine a laser pointer beam so that it makes a 27 degree angle with respect to the normal line to that surface. What angle will the laser beam make with respect to the normal after it passes through the air-diamond boundary and is inside the diamond? Give your answer as the number of degrees.arrow_forwardFind current of each line of D,E, and F. Where V1 is 9V, V2 is 7V, R1 is 989 , R2 is 2160, R3 is 4630 , R4 is 5530, R5 is 6720, and E is 16V. Please explain all steps. Thank youarrow_forward
- You are tasked with designing a parallel-plate capacitor using two square metal plates, eachwith an area of 0.5 m², separated by a 0.1 mm thick layer of air. However, to increase the capacitance,you decide to insert a dielectric material with a dielectric constant κ = 3.0 between the plates. Describewhat happens (and why) to the E field between the plates when the dielectric is added in place of theair.arrow_forwardCalculate the work required to assemble a uniform charge Q on a thin spherical shell of radiusR. Start with no charge and add infinitesimal charges dq until the total charge reaches Q, assuming thecharge is always evenly distributed over the shell’s surface. Show all steps.arrow_forwardRod AB is fixed to a smooth collar D, which slides freely along the vertical guide shown in (Figure 1). Point C is located just to the left of the concentrated load P = 70 lb. Suppose that w= 17 lb/ft. Follow the sign convention. Part A Figure 3 ft -1.5 ft √30° 1 of 1 Determine the normal force at point C. Express your answer in pounds to three significant figures. ΜΕ ΑΣΦ Η vec Nc= Submit Request Answer Part B Determine the shear force at point C. Express your answer in pounds to three significant figures. VC= ΜΕ ΑΣΦΗ vec Submit Request Answer Part C Determine the moment at point C. Express your answer in pound-feet to three significant figures. Mc= Ο ΑΣΦ Η vec Submit Request Answer Provide Feedback ? ? lb lb ? lb-ftarrow_forward
- Consider a uniformly charged ring of radius R with total charge Q, centered at the origin inthe xy-plane. Find the electric field (as a vector) at a point on the z-axis at a distance z above thecenter of the ring. Assume the charge density is constant along the ring.arrow_forward3) If the slider block C is moving at 3m/s, determine the angular velocity of BC and the crank AB at the instant shown. (Use equation Vs Vc wx fuc, then use equation Vs VA + Ve/athen write it in terms of w and the appropriate r equate the two and solve) 0.5 m B 1 m 60° A 45° vc = 3 m/sarrow_forward3) If the slider block C is moving at 3m/s, determine the angular velocity of BC and the crank AB at the instant shown. (Use equation Vs Vc wxf, then use equation V, VA + Va/Athen write it in terms of w and the appropriate r equate the two and solve) f-3marrow_forward
- Pls help ASAParrow_forwardPls help ASAParrow_forward14. A boy is out walking his dog. From his house, he walks 30 m North, then 23 m East, then 120 cm South, then 95 m West, and finally 10 m East. Draw a diagram showing the path that the boy walked, his total displacement, and then determine the magnitude and direction of his total displacement.arrow_forward
- Glencoe Physics: Principles and Problems, Student...PhysicsISBN:9780078807213Author:Paul W. ZitzewitzPublisher:Glencoe/McGraw-HillPhysics for Scientists and Engineers: Foundations...PhysicsISBN:9781133939146Author:Katz, Debora M.Publisher:Cengage LearningCollege PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781938168000Author:Paul Peter Urone, Roger HinrichsPublisher:OpenStax College
- University Physics Volume 1PhysicsISBN:9781938168277Author:William Moebs, Samuel J. Ling, Jeff SannyPublisher:OpenStax - Rice UniversityCollege PhysicsPhysicsISBN:9781305952300Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris VuillePublisher:Cengage LearningPhysics for Scientists and Engineers with Modern ...PhysicsISBN:9781337553292Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. JewettPublisher:Cengage Learning





