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A fly buzzes four and a half times around Kit Yan's head along a circular path and ends up on the opposite side of his head from where it started. If his head has a diameter of 14 cm, what are the fly's total distance travelled and total displacement?
ADistance 63pi cm, displacement 0
BDistance 63pi cm, displacement 14 cm
CDistance 7 cm, displacement 0
DDistance 7 cm, displacement 63pi cm
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: B. Distance 63pi cm, displacement 14 cm
1. Each full loop covers a circumference of pi x diameter = pi x 14 cm = 14pi cm.
2. 4.5 loops cover a distance of 4.5 x 14pi cm = 63pi cm.
3. Ending on the opposite side of the head means the fly is displaced by the head's diameter, 14 cm.
4. Distance keeps counting every loop, while displacement only compares the start and end points.
_Source: OpenStax Physics (CC BY 4.0), Ch 2 "Motion in One Dimension", section 2.1 Relative Motion, Distance, and Displacement_
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