Question

Which of the following is true for displacement?
(a) It cannot be zero.
(b) Its magnitude is greater than the distance traveled by the object.

Answer 1

(a)

1. Displacement can either be positive, negative, or zero.
2. Displacement is defined as the change in the position of an object.
3. It is a vector quantity and has a direction and magnitude.
4. It is represented as an arrow that points from the starting position to the final position.
5. For example- If an object moves from A position to B, then the object’s position changes. This change in the position of an object is known as Displacement.
   Displacement is negative when-
   Suppose, I start from point X and move 50 m in front and then come back moving 60 m. I've moved an extra 10 m. And it will be termed negative displacement.
   Displacement is positive when-
   You already know, If I move from point X to point Y. I've covered a certain distance and it can be termed as my positive displacement.
   Displacement is zero when-
   If a person jogs in a circular park and completes a complete round. His initial and final position is the same. Hence the displacement of the person is zero.

Hence, this statement is False.

(b)

1. The magnitude of displacement can never be greater than the distance travelled by the object. It can be equal to or lesser than the distance traveled by the object.
2. Displacement is a vector quantity, which means that it has magnitude as well as direction.
3. If an object travels in a particular direction, its distance and displacement are equal.
4. If the same moving object changes its direction, the distance travelled by it keeps increasing but the displacement is the shortest distance between the initial and final position of the object. So displacement becomes shorter than the distance.
5. Therefore, displacement can never be greater than the distance.

Hence, this statement is False.