For which one of the following situations will the path length equal the magnitude of the displacement?
A)A toy train is traveling around a circular track.
B)A ball is rolling down an inclined plane.
C)A train travels 5 miles east before it stops. It then travels 2 miles west.
D)A ball rises and falls after being thrown straight up from the earth's surface.
E)A ball on the end of a string is moving in a vertical circle.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When an object moves in a straight line, the path length is equal to the displacement. However, when an object moves in a curved path or changes direction, the path length is greater than the displacement. In option B, the ball is rolling down an inclined plane, which is a straight line path. Therefore, the path length and displacement will have the same magnitude.

For Which One of the Following Situations Will the Path