Which statement below about the distance between the starting and ending positions and the displacement between the starting and ending positions is correct?
A) The distance between the starting and ending positions is twice the magnitude of the displacement between the starting and ending positions.
B) The distance between the starting and ending positions is equal to the magnitude of the displacement between the starting and ending positions.
C) The distance between the starting and ending positions is the negative of the magnitude of the displacement between the starting and ending positions.
D) The distance between the starting and ending positions is greater than the magnitude of the displacement between the starting and ending positions.
E) The distance between the starting and ending positions is less than the magnitude of the displacement between the starting and ending positions.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The distance between the starting and ending positions is the total length of the path traveled, regardless of the direction. The displacement between the starting and ending positions is the straight-line distance between the two points, regardless of the path taken. Therefore, the distance between the starting and ending positions can be greater than, equal to, or less than the magnitude of the displacement between the starting and ending positions. However, the distance between the starting and ending positions is never twice the magnitude of the displacement between the starting and ending positions.

Which Statement Below About the Distance Between the Starting and Ending