The displacement of a moving object in a given interval of time is zero. Would the distance travelled by the object also be zero? Justify your answer.

Vedclass pdf generator app on play store
Vedclass iOS app on app store
(B) No,the distance travelled by the object would not necessarily be zero.
Displacement is a vector quantity defined as the shortest distance between the initial and final positions,whereas distance is a scalar quantity representing the total path length covered by the object.
Displacement becomes zero when an object returns to its starting point (initial position = final position) after completing a journey.
However,the object has still covered a path to return to the start,meaning the total distance travelled is greater than zero.
For example,if an athlete runs one complete lap around a circular track,their displacement is $0$,but the distance travelled is equal to the circumference of the track $(2 \pi r)$.

Explore More

Similar Questions

Area under a speed-time graph is equal to the

Draw a velocity-time graph for a body which starts to move with initial velocity $u$ under a constant acceleration $a$ for time $t$. Using this graph,derive an expression for the distance covered $S$ in time $t$.

Difficult
View Solution

What does the slope of a displacement$-$time graph represent? Can a displacement$-$time graph be parallel to the displacement axis? Give a reason for your answer.

How can you find the following?
$(i)$ Velocity from a displacement-time graph.
$(ii)$ Acceleration from a velocity-time graph.
$(iii)$ Displacement from a velocity-time graph.
$(iv)$ Velocity from an acceleration-time graph.

$(a)$ Derive the second equation of motion $S = ut + \frac{1}{2}at^2$ graphically,where the symbols have their usual meanings.
$(b)$ $A$ car accelerates uniformly from $18 \text{ km h}^{-1}$ to $36 \text{ km h}^{-1}$ in $5 \text{ s}$. Calculate the acceleration and the distance covered by the car in that time.

Difficult
View Solution

Vedclass Products

For Students

Vedclass Test Series

Mock tests in real JEE/NEET style with performance analysis. 5-day free trial.

Start Free Trial
For Teachers

Exam Paper Generator

Generate Set A/B/C/D exam papers from 7.5L+ questions in 2 minutes. 3 chapters free.

Try Free
For Institutes

Online Exam Module

Live online exams with unlimited students, 360° analytics & white-label branding.

See Demo