When delivering mail, what is the relation between the displacement and distance traveled for each postal delivery worker?
To understand the relation between displacement and distance traveled for a postal delivery worker, let's break down the concepts.
Distance refers to the total length of the path taken by the worker from the starting point to the ending point. It is measured along the actual path, considering any twists, turns, and detours taken.
Displacement, on the other hand, refers to the shortest straight-line distance between the starting and ending points. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (the length of the straight line) and direction.
In most cases, the displacement and distance traveled by a postal delivery worker are not the same. This is because delivery routes often involve multiple stops and various turns, which result in a longer distance traveled compared to the straight-line displacement.
For example, imagine a delivery worker starting from point A and delivering mail to points B, C, and D before returning to point A. The distance traveled would be the sum of the lengths AB, BC, CD, and DA. However, the displacement would be zero since the worker ends up at the same point he started from (point A).
In general, the displacement can be equal to, shorter than, or longer than the actual distance traveled, depending on the path taken by the worker.