Understanding Motion: Distance and Displacement

A student walks 4 meters east, then 3 meters west. What is the total distance traveled by the student?

• 1 meter

• 7 meters

• 4 meters

• 3 meters

A delivery person travels 2 km north, 2 km east, and then 2 km south. What is the magnitude of the delivery person’s displacement?

• 2 km

• 4 km

• 6 km

• 8 km

A car moves 6 km north and then 8 km east. What is the total distance traveled by the car?

• 14 km

• 10 km

• 2 km

• 7 km

A hiker walks 3 km west, then 4 km south. What is the total distance the hiker has walked?

• 5 km

• 7 km

• 1 km

• 12 km

If a runner completes one full lap around a 400-meter circular track and ends at the starting point, what is the runner’s displacement?

• 400 meters

• 0 meters

• 200 meters

• 800 meters

A person walks 5 meters north, then 12 meters east. What is the total distance the person has walked?

• 13 meters

• 17 meters

• 7 meters

• 12 meters

A cyclist rides 10 km east, then turns around and rides 4 km west. What is the cyclist’s displacement from the starting point?

• 6 km east

• 14 km east

• 6 km west

• 4 km east

A swimmer swims 20 meters to the opposite edge of a pool, then swims 10 meters back. What is the swimmer’s total distance traveled?

• 10 meters

• 30 meters

• 20 meters

• 0 meters

A bus travels 8 km north, then 6 km west. What is the total distance the bus has traveled?

• 14 km

• 10 km

• 2 km

• 7 km

A person walks 7 meters east, then 24 meters north. What is the total distance the person has walked?

• 25 meters

• 31 meters

• 17 meters

• 24 meters