Goal: Distinguish distance traveled from displacement
Source: CT151.2-1
Andy has the following series of displacements: 3 m to the right; 4 m to
the left; 5 m to the right; and 2 m to the left. What is his distance
traveled?
- 0
- 2 m
- 2 m (to the right)
- 2 m (to the left)
- 14 m (to the right)
- 8 m (to the right)
- Impossible to determine
- None of the above
Commentary:
Answer
(8) Students just learning about vectors and displacements are
inclined to over specify quantities. Before they knew anything about
vectors they used distance as a scalar but can become confused and give
it the direction of the total displacement.