Question

Given are the velocity-time graphs of four particles. In which of the cases the displacement of the particle is zero at time $t$?

• A.
• B.
• C.
• D.

Answer 1

The correct option is B

The area under the velocity-time graph gives the displacement of the body. The area of the part of the graph above the time axis is considered positive and the area of the part of graph below time axis is considered negative. Displacement is the algebraic sum of all such areas.

Now, if the magnitude of the positive areas equals the magnitude of the negative areas, then the total area will be zero. In case b, the graph is anti-symmetric about t = 2 s. Hence, in case b, total area, and the displacement will be zero.