Question

Distance and displacement are equal for an object, if it moves in a _______ path.

• A. circular
• B. linear
• C. zig-zag
• D. curvilinear

Answer 1

The correct option is B linear

Distance is the total length of the path covered by an object whereas the displacement is the shortest distance between the initial and final positions of the object.
A) In a circular path, if an object covers one full circle, the distance covered is the circumference of the circular path whereas the displacement is zero as the object reached its initial position again.

B) In case of a straight line, the distance covered is equal to the displacement because the length of the path covered is equal to the distance between the initial and final positions.

C) In case of a zig-zag path, the distance is the sum of the length of AB, BC, CD, DE, EF and FG, whereas the displacement is simply AG.

D) Curvilinear path is also similar to the circular path where instead of a full circle the object just takes a turn. The distance will be the length of the curve whereas the displacement will be the the straight line joining the initial and the final positions of the object.