The magnitude of a displacement is ______________ the magnitude of the distance traveled.
A) always unequal to
B) less than or equal to
C) always equal to
D) greater than or equal to
E) none of these; the two cannot be compared.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The magnitude of a displacement (the shortest distance from the initial to the final position) is always less than or equal to the magnitude of the distance traveled (the total path length covered), with equality occurring only when the path taken is a straight line in a single direction.

The Magnitude of a Displacement Is ______________ the Magnitude of the Distance