Question

(a) Define the displacement of a particle in linear motion.
(b) Does it depend on the path followed?

Answer 1

(A) Displacement

1. The displacement of a particle in linear motion is the shortest distance between its path's initial and final point.
2. It can have either positive or negative values.
3. Displacement can be equal to or less than the distance traveled

Thus, this is the concept of displacement.

(B) Does displacement depends on the path followed?

1. No, the displacement of a particle does not depend upon the choice of origin.
2. It depends only on the particle's initial position and final position.

Thus, displacement depends on the origin and not on the path followed.