Which could describe the motion of an object?
distance = 1 meter and displacement = 10 meters
distance = 10 meters and displacement = 100 meters
distance = 0 and displacement = 10 meters
distance = 10 meters and displacement = 10 meters
To determine which option describes the motion of an object, we need to understand the concepts of distance and displacement.
Distance refers to the total path length travelled by an object. It is a scalar quantity and is always positive or zero. For example, if an object travels in a straight line and goes back and forth over a distance of 10 meters, the total distance travelled would be 10 meters.
Displacement, on the other hand, refers to the change in position of an object from its initial position to its final position. It is a vector quantity and includes both magnitude (the distance) and direction. Displacement can be positive, negative, or zero.
Now, let's consider each option:
1. distance = 1 meter and displacement = 10 meters:
The object has traveled a distance of 1 meter, but its displacement is 10 meters. This means that the object started at one point, moved in a specific direction, and ended up 10 meters away from its initial position. The object could have undergone a change in velocity or taken a curved path.
2. distance = 10 meters and displacement = 100 meters:
In this case, the object has covered a distance of 10 meters, but the displacement is 100 meters. This implies that the object moved in a specific direction and ended up 100 meters away from its initial position. The object might have taken a curved path, changed direction multiple times, or encountered obstacles along the way.
3. distance = 0 and displacement = 10 meters:
The object has covered zero distance, which means it remained at the same position. However, the displacement is 10 meters, suggesting that the object moved from its initial position and ended up 10 meters away in a specific direction.
4. distance = 10 meters and displacement = 10 meters:
In this case, the object has traveled a distance of 10 meters, which indicates that it either moved in a straight line or went back and forth over a distance of 10 meters. The displacement is also 10 meters, implying that the object moved from its initial position and ended up 10 meters away in a specific direction.
Based on the given options, the correct answer would be distance = 10 meters and displacement = 10 meters.