Question

A body travels a distance of 15 m from A to B and then moves a distance of 20 m at right angles to AB and move to C. Calculate the total distance and displacement?

Answer 1

Step 1, Given data

Distance between the AB = 15 m

Distance between the BC = 20 m

According to the question we can draw the path of the boy

Step 2, Finding the displacement

Let the final point be C
Therefore, Total Distance = AB + BC
Distance = 15 m + 20 m
Distance = 35 m
Displacement = Hypotenuse of Triangle ABC

From the Pythagoras theorem
$(AC{)}^2=(AB{)}^2+(BC{)}^2$

Or,
$A{C}^2={15}^2+{20}^2$
$A{C}^2=225+400$
$A{C}^2=625$
Therefore, $AC=\sqrt{625}=25m$
Hence, Displacement = 25 m.