Unit: Mass
Year: 1990 Question#: 5
Question: A student walks 3 blocks south, 4 blocks west, and 3 blocks north. What is the displacement of the student?
(1 ) 10 blocks east
(2 ) 10 blocks west
(3 ) 4 blocks east
(4 ) 4 blocks west
What is this question really asking?
Explanation by: Joe W.
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Answer 1
10 blocks east
INCORRECT - because the student never traveled east.
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Answer 2
10 blocks west
INCORRECT - because the student traveled only 4 blocks west.
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Answer 3
4 blocks east
Incorrect - because the student never traveled east.
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Answer 4
4 blocks west
CORRECT - because student went 3 blocks south, but then came back up 3 blocks north. So to be at the same height as before. Student moved 4 blocks west, then never moved back east.
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Do you know the difference between distance and displacement? return to top
