Answer to Question #23151 in Mechanics | Relativity for shagun singh chauhan

Question

how is it possible for a car to travel a certain distance and yet have zero displacement? explain with the help of an explain.

Answer 1

If the initial point and the final point are the same then the displacement is zero.

Distance is simply that: it is how far you have traveled no matter what route you took. Displacement is how far you traveled from your starting point. So let’s say you walk 100 feet north and then turn around and walk 50 feet south. Your distance is 150 feet, but your displacement is only 50 feet because you end 50 feet from where you started.
For example:
1) if a car is travelling in a circular motion the initial point and the final point are the same. Hence displacement is zero;
2) if you start from a point A and travel a distance and reach B and again come back to A then displacement is zero.