bionut said:Homework Statement
A runner completes 6 1/2 laps around a 400m track during 12min reun test. What is the runners displacement at the end of the 12 min?
Homework Equations
The Attempt at a Solution
Well the distance covered is 2.6km or 2600m in 720s, avg speed = 3.61m/s
So I calculated the dispalcement to be: 200m, because he is 200m from his inital position, but the correct answer is 160m is anyone able to help?
Displacement refers to the overall change in an object's position from its initial point to its final point. It is a vector quantity that takes into account both the distance and direction of the movement.
Distance is a scalar quantity that only takes into account the total length of the path traveled, while displacement considers the shortest distance between the initial and final points regardless of the path taken.
To calculate displacement on a 400m track, you need to know the starting point and the finishing point of the object's movement. Then, you can use the formula: Displacement = Final Position - Initial Position.
No, displacement and distance are only equal when the object's movement is in a straight line without any change in direction. On a 400m track, this would only occur if the object starts and finishes at the same point.
Displacement can be represented graphically as a vector with an arrow pointing from the initial point to the final point. The length of the arrow represents the magnitude of displacement, and the direction of the arrow shows the direction of movement.