An object has moved though a distance can it have zero displacement? I...
Yes, an object can have zero displacement
An object can have zero displacement if it returns to its original position after moving through a distance. In this case, although the object has moved through a distance, its displacement is zero because its starting and ending points are the same.
Example
Consider a person walking around a circular track of radius 10 meters. If the person walks one complete circle around the track, he will have covered a distance of 2πr = 20π meters. However, his displacement is zero because he ends up at the same position where he started.
Explanation
Displacement is a vector quantity that represents the change in position of an object. It is the distance between the starting and ending points of an object's motion, measured in a straight line. On the other hand, distance is a scalar quantity that represents how much ground an object has covered during its motion.
In the case of the person walking around the circular track, his distance covered is 20π meters. However, his displacement is zero because he ends up at the same position where he started. This is because the displacement takes into account the direction of motion, and since the person's direction of motion is constantly changing, his net displacement is zero.
Conclusion
In conclusion, an object can have zero displacement even if it has moved through a distance. This happens when the object returns to its original position after moving. Displacement is a vector quantity that takes into account the direction of motion, while distance is a scalar quantity that only considers the magnitude of motion.