A boat moves 60 kilometers east from point A to point B. There, it reverses direction and travels another 45 kilometers toward point A. What are the total distance and total displacement of the boat?

a) the total distance is 105 kilometers and the total displacement is 45 kilometers east
b) the total distance is 60 kilometers and the total displacement is 60 kilometers east
c) the total distance is 105 kilometers and the total displacement is 15 kilometers east
d) the total distance is 60 kilometers and the total displacement is 45 kilometers east

Question

A boat moves 60 kilometers east from point A to point B. There, it reverses direction and travels another 45 kilometers toward point A. What are the total distance and total displacement of the boat?

a) the total distance is 105 kilometers and the total displacement is 45 kilometers east
b) the total distance is 60 kilometers and the total displacement is 60 kilometers east
c) the total distance is 105 kilometers and the total displacement is 15 kilometers east
d) the total distance is 60 kilometers and the total displacement is 45 kilometers east

anonymous · Answer

what do you think ?

anonymous · Answer

I think it's C but i'm not sure.

anonymous · Answer

Total distance is a scalar. So you should sum 60km and 45 km. But displacement is a vector quantity. So you should subtract 45km from 60km. Yes c is true.