Question

question 9 (1 point) ✓ saved
suppose that an object travels from one point in space to another. make a comparison between the displacement and the distance traveled.
the displacement is either greater than or equal to the distance traveled.
the displacement is always equal to the distance traveled.
the displacement is either less than or equal to the distance traveled.
the displacement can be either greater than, smaller than, or equal to the distance traveled.

Explanation:

• Displacement: It is a vector quantity that measures the straight - line distance from the initial to the final position of an object.
• Distance traveled: It is a scalar quantity that measures the total length of the path an object has taken.
• If an object moves in a straight line without changing direction, displacement is equal to the distance traveled.
• If an object moves in a curved path or changes direction, the displacement (straight - line distance between start and end) is less than the distance traveled (total path length).

Answer:

The displacement is either less than or equal to the distance traveled.