a boy starts from point a and moves 5 units toward the east, then turns back and moves 3 units toward the west. What is the dispacement in the position of the boy?
D = 5 + (-3) = 2 Units.
To find the displacement of the boy, we need to calculate the net result of his movements.
First, let's understand the concept of displacement. Displacement is a vector quantity that measures the change in position of an object. It is the shortest straight-line distance from the initial position to the final position, along with the direction of this straight line.
Now let's break down the boy's movements:
1. He starts from point A, so his initial position is at point A.
2. He moves 5 units toward the east. This means he is increasing his position along the east direction.
3. He then turns back and moves 3 units toward the west. This means he is decreasing his position along the west direction.
To calculate the boy's displacement, we need to determine the net difference in his position along the east-west axis.
Since he moved 5 units east and then turned back and moved 3 units west, we can say that his net displacement is the difference between these two movements:
Net displacement = 5 units (east) - 3 units (west) = 2 units (east)
Therefore, the displacement in the position of the boy is 2 units toward the east.