alleryStart learning →How is the displacement of an object correctly calculated?
AInitial position minus final position
BTotal length of the path travelled
CFinal position minus initial position
DAverage of initial and final positions
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. Final position minus initial position
1. Displacement is the change in position of an object.
2. In symbols the displacement is the final position minus the initial position.
3. Subtracting in the reverse order simply flips the sign, so it gives the wrong direction.
4. The total length of the path travelled is distance travelled, a different quantity.
_Source: OpenStax College Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 2 "Kinematics", section 2.1 Displacement_
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