PQ: Distance and Displacement

Question 1

Question 1: Sprinting drills include running 40.0m [N], walking 20.0m [N] and then sprinting 100.0m [N]. What is the sprinters displacement from the initial position?

Answer 1

160.0m [N]

Question 2

Question 2: To perform a give and go, basketball player fakes out the defence by moving 0.75m [right] and the 3.50m [left]. What is the players displacement from starting position.

Answer 2

2.75m [left]

Question 3

Question 3: While building a wall, a brick layer sweeps the cement back and forth. If she swings her hand back and forth a distance of 1.70m four times, calculate the distance and displacement her hand travels during that time.

Answer 3

Distance = 6.80m

Displacement 0m

Question 4

Question 4: Using a racquet two children play catch. Standing 30m apart, the child on the right tosses the ball to the child on the left and then moves 5.0m [right] to catch the ball again. Determine the horizontal distance and displacement the ball travels from its initial position (ignore any vertical motion)

Answer 4

Distance = 11.0m
Displacement = 5.0m [right]

Question 5

A wildlife biologist measures how long it takes four animals to cover a displacement of 200m [forward]
a) Graph data from table below.
b) Determine each animals average velocity. 
ANIMAL | TIME TAKEN (s)
Elk              10.0
Coyote       10.4
Bear            18.0
Moose         12.9

Answer 5

Elk : 20 m/s [fwd]
Coyote: 19.2 m/s [fwd]
Bear: 11.1 m/s [fwd]
Moose: 15.5 m/s [fwd]