Understanding Distance and Displacement

What unit is used for both distance and displacement?

• liters

• grams

• kilometers

• meters

Can a distance-time graph ever go down? Why or why not?

• No, but it can remain flat if the distance is constant.

• Yes, it can go down if the object is moving backwards.

• No, a distance-time graph cannot go down.

• Yes, it can go down during a stop in motion.

Can a displacement-time graph go down? Explain.

• Yes, a displacement-time graph can go down.

• No, it can only remain horizontal.

• Yes, but it indicates constant speed.

• No, a displacement-time graph can only go up.

What does it mean when a car is represented as stopped on a displacement-time graph?

• The car is not moving.

• The car is parked on a hill.

• The car is accelerating.

• The car is reversing.

How does the displacement of an object differ from its distance?

• Displacement measures the total time taken to travel between two points.

• Distance is a vector quantity representing the total path traveled.

• Displacement differs from distance as it is a vector quantity representing the shortest path between two points, while distance is a scalar quantity representing the total path traveled.

• Displacement is always greater than distance.

What does it mean when a car is turning back in the opposite direction on a graph?

• The car is reversing its direction of travel.

• The car is changing lanes to the right.

• The car is making a U-turn to go forward.

• The car is accelerating in the same direction.

Why is it important to understand the difference between distance and displacement?

• Distance and displacement are the same concept.

• It is important to understand the difference because distance is a scalar quantity representing total movement, while displacement is a vector quantity that indicates the shortest path and direction from the start to the end point.

• Understanding the difference is irrelevant in physics.

• Displacement is always greater than distance.

What is the primary difference between speed and velocity?

• Speed is a vector quantity, while velocity is a scalar quantity.

• Speed is the rate of change of distance, while velocity is the rate of change of displacement.

• Speed and velocity are the same concept.

• Velocity is always greater than speed.

How can you determine the total distance traveled from a Velocity-time graph?

• By calculating the area under the graph.

• By finding the slope of the graph.

• By measuring the height of the graph.

• By identifying the maximum point on the graph.

What does a horizontal line on a velocity-time graph indicate?

• The object is accelerating.

• The object is moving at a constant velocity.

• The object is at rest.

• The object is decelerating.