Distance and Displacement

After completing one trip on a roller coaster, the roller coaster's ________ is zero.

• displacement
• reference point
• length
• distance

A person walks 50 meters directly north, stops, and then travels 32 meters directly south.  What is their displacement?

• 82 meters
• 18 meters
• 28 meters

Billy runs 400 meters to Andy's house, turns around, and runs 400 meters back home. What is Billy's displacement?

• 0 meters

• 400 meters

• 800 meters

• 1600 meters

Which of the following is correct?

• Initial Position = -5 m

  Final Position = -5 m

  Distance = 22 m

  Displacement = 0 m

• Initial Position = -5 m

  Final Position = -5 m

  Distance = 0 m

  Displacement = 22 m

• Initial Position = -5 m

  Final Position = 6 m

  Distance = 22 m

  Displacement = 0 m

• Initial Position = -5 m

  Final Position = 6 m

  Distance = 0 m

  Displacement = 22 m

Which of the following is correct?

• Initial Position = -2 m

  Final Position = 0 m

  Distance = 14 m

  Displacement = 2 m

• Initial Position = 0 m

  Final Position = -2 m

  Distance = 14 m

  Displacement = -2 m

• Initial Position = -2 m

  Final Position = 0 m

  Distance = -2 m

  Displacement = -2 m

• Initial Position = -2 m

  Final Position = 0 m

  Distance = 14 m

  Displacement = 14 m

• None are correct.

How can you tell motion occurs?

• The object's speed decreases in regards to the reference point.

• The object and the reference point both move at the same speed.

• The object's speed increases in regards to a reference point.

• The object's position changes in regards to a reference point.

A place or object (like a stop sign or mailbox) used for comparison to determine if another object is in motion is called a

• comparison point

• frame of reference

• point of view

• motion detector

Ronaldo runs across a soccer field, moving 10 meters north, then 8 meters west. His displacement would be:

• 10.2 m, NW
• 12.8 m, NW
• 15.4 m, NW
• 18.0 m, NW

During a game of dodgeball, Marina runs 2.45 meters forward to grab a dodgeball, then runs 1.25 meters backward to avoid a opponent's dodgeball. Her displacement would be:

• 3.7 meters backwards
• 1.2 meters backwards
• 3.7 meters forwards
• 1.2 meters forwards

Ivan walks 10 meters west to the water fountain, then runs 2 meters east to his class to avoid a lockout. His displacement would be:

• 8 meters
• 8 meters, east
• 8 meters, west
• 12 meters