A ball is rolled uphill a distance of 5 meters before it slows, stops, and begins to roll back. The ball rolls downhill 9 meters before coming to rest against a tree. what is the balls displacement
+5-9 = -4
so, 4m downhill
To find the ball's displacement, we need to calculate the net distance and direction traveled from the starting point to the final position.
First, let's determine the net distance traveled uphill and downhill separately.
Uphill distance = 5 meters
Downhill distance = 9 meters
Since the ball rolls back downhill, the net distance traveled is the difference between the uphill distance and the downhill distance.
Net distance = Uphill distance - Downhill distance
Net distance = 5 meters - 9 meters
Net distance = -4 meters
The negative sign indicates that the ball's final position is 4 meters behind the starting point. Therefore, the ball's displacement is -4 meters.
To find the ball's displacement, we need to determine the net distance the ball has moved and the direction of its motion.
In this case, the net distance can be calculated by subtracting the distance traveled uphill from the distance traveled downhill. The uphill distance is given as 5 meters, and the downhill distance is given as 9 meters.
Net distance = Downhill distance - Uphill distance
Net distance = 9 meters - 5 meters
Net distance = 4 meters
The negative sign indicates that the ball has moved in the opposite direction of the uphill movement, which is downhill against the tree.
Therefore, the ball's displacement is 4 meters in the negative direction.