Understanding Speed, Distance, and Displacement

Which of the following is a correct SI unit for speed?

A car travels 100 meters north and then 100 meters south. What is the total distance traveled by the car?

• 0 meters

• 100 meters

• 200 meters

• 50 meters

Which of the following best describes displacement?

• The total length of the path traveled

• The shortest straight-line distance from the starting point to the ending point

• The time taken to travel a certain distance

• The rate at which distance is covered

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

• 400 m

• 200 m

• 0 m

• 800 m

Which of the following units is NOT appropriate for measuring speed?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

A person walks 6 meters east, then 8 meters north. What is the magnitude of the person’s displacement?

• 10 meters

• 14 meters

• 2 meters

• 48 meters

A person walks 60 meters east and then 80 meters north. What is the total distance traveled and the displacement?

• 140 m, 100 m

• 100 m, 140 m

• 140 m, 60 m

• 80 m, 100 m

A car travels 150 meters in 10 seconds. What is its average speed?

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS3-1

A student walks 12 meters north, then 5 meters south. What is the student’s displacement?

• 17 meters north

• 7 meters north

• 7 meters south

• 12 meters south

A train moves 500 meters east, then 300 meters west. What is the total distance traveled and the displacement?

• 800 m, 200 m east

• 200 m, 800 m east

• 800 m, 500 m east

• 500 m, 300 m west