The location of a particle is changed. What can we say about the displ...
Distance vs Displacement:
Distance and displacement are two different concepts in physics. While distance refers to the total path traveled by an object, displacement refers to the change in position of an object from its initial position to its final position. Distance is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude, while displacement is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.
Statement Analysis:
Let's analyze each statement to determine which one is true:
a) "Distance always decreases with time."
This statement is not true. Distance traveled by an object can either increase or decrease with time, depending on the motion of the object. For example, if a car travels 10 km north and then returns 10 km south, the total distance traveled is 20 km, even though the car ended up at the same position. Therefore, this statement is false.
b) "Distance can never be less than the magnitude of displacement."
This statement is true. Since distance is the total path traveled by an object, it can never be less than the displacement, which only considers the change in position. Displacement is the shortest path between the initial and final positions, so the distance will always be greater than or equal to the magnitude of displacement. For example, if an object moves in a straight line from point A to point B, the distance traveled will be equal to the magnitude of displacement. Therefore, this statement is true.
c) "Distance can be negative."
This statement is not true. Distance is a scalar quantity and, by definition, cannot be negative. It represents the magnitude of the path traveled and is always positive or zero. Therefore, this statement is false.
d) "Distance is a vector quantity."
This statement is not true. Distance is a scalar quantity, as mentioned earlier. It only has magnitude and does not have any direction associated with it. On the other hand, displacement is a vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction. Therefore, this statement is false.
Conclusion:
The only true statement among the given options is "Distance can never be less than the magnitude of displacement." This is because distance represents the total path traveled, which is always equal to or greater than the magnitude of displacement, which represents the change in position.
The location of a particle is changed. What can we say about the displ...
Option (B) is the correct answer, as we know if the location has been changed, the particle must have travelled some distance even if it is just 1mm. Same goes for displacement. In layman terms, displacement is the shortcut between two points A and B while distance is the total length travelled from A to B. Both of them cannot be zero if the location has changed. Hope this clarifies your doubt.