Find the following for path B in Figure 2.59:

(a) The distance travelled.

(b) The magnitude of the displacement from start to finish.

(c) The displacement from start to finish.

The entire length of the path traveled by the body is the distance. The meter is the unit of measurement. It's a number with a scalar value.

The smallest distance between the initial and end positions is defined as displacement.

It's a quantity with a vector. It is measured in meters.

If the path is a straight line, the distance and displacement will be the same only in such a case.

Path of particle B

a. The distance traveled by the particle B is:

$$\begin{gathered} \mathbf{=}\mathbf{12}\mathbf{meter}\mathbf{-}\mathbf{8}\mathbf{meter}\mathbf{.} \\ \mathbf{=}\mathbf{\text{4\hspace{0.17em}meter}} \end{gathered}$$

The distance covered by particle B is $\mathbf{4}\mathbf{meter}$.

b. The magnitude of the displacement, in this case, will be the same as the distance as it is a straight path which is role="math" localid="1655548082697" $\mathbf{4}\mathbf{meter}$

c. The direction of the displacement would be $\mathbf{-}\mathbf{4}\mathbf{m}$as the body is moving in the negative x-direction.