Question
Story #5: A car changes its position from 52km [W] to 139 km [E]. What is the car's displacement?
Solution
4
(222 Votes)
Caroline
Master ยท Tutor for 5 years
Answer
The car's displacement is **191 km [E]**.Here's how to calculate it:1. **Understand Displacement:** Displacement is a vector quantity that represents the change in position. It has both magnitude (how far the object moved) and direction.2. **Establish Directions:** West is typically considered negative and East is positive.3. **Calculate the Change:** The car starts at -52 km (West) and ends at +139 km (East). The change in position is the final position minus the initial position: 139 km - (-52 km) = 139 km + 52 km = 191 km4. **Determine the Direction:** Since the result is positive, the displacement is in the East direction.Therefore, the car's displacement is
.