Question detail
A car travels 100 meters east and then 40 meters west. Calculate the displacement of the car from its starting point Explain your answer using Scalar and vector quantities and direction.
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
Question
Type
exam_style
Style
Topic
Forces and their interactions
Question
A car travels 100 meters east and then 40 meters west. Calculate the displacement of the car from its starting point Explain your answer using Scalar and vector quantities and direction.
Answer
The displacement is 60 meters east.
Explanation
A strong answer should address distinguish distance from displacement using direction directly. Use the context of Scalar and vector quantities within Forces and their interactions, then state the relevant forces or motion reasoning with units where needed. The answer is correct when it names the key physics quantity, keeps distance and displacement distinct, and links the conclusion back to the approved learning objective.
Common mistake
Confusing Distance and Displacement
Students often think distance and displacement are the same because both measure how far an object has moved.
Emphasize that distance is a scalar quantity with only magnitude, while displacement is a vector quantity that includes direction.
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