If you wanted to know the location of a vehicle that ran out of gas after taking a zigzag route through the city, which quantity would be most useful?
speed
displacement
distance
direction
The quantity that would be most useful in this situation is distance.
In order to determine the location of a vehicle that ran out of gas after taking a zigzag route through the city, the quantity that would be most useful is the displacement. Displacement refers to the change in position of an object and provides information about the straight-line distance and direction from the starting point to the final position. By knowing the displacement of the vehicle, you can pinpoint its location more accurately, regardless of the speed, distance, or direction it took during its zigzag route.
In this scenario, the most useful quantity would be the vehicle's displacement. Displacement refers to the overall change in position of an object from its starting point to its final point. In the case of the vehicle that ran out of gas, the displacement would show the direct distance and direction from where it started to where it currently is.
To determine the displacement of the vehicle, you would need to know the starting point and the current location of the vehicle. This information can be obtained by using GPS tracking devices, surveillance cameras, eyewitness accounts, or any other means of tracking the vehicle's movements.
Speed, distance, and direction are also important factors, but they might not provide the most accurate information when it comes to finding the actual location of the vehicle.