Question

In the example of an athlete running back and forth on a straight track (Fig.), when will the displacement of the athlete be zero? What will be the total distance travelled in that case?

Answer 1

Since displacement is the net change in position between two points in time, the athlete’s displacement will be zero when she returns to her starting point O.

The athlete in Fig. runs 100 meters from O to A. She will return to her starting point if she runs the remaining 100 meters following the same route from A to O.

Thus, in that case:

Displacement = 0 m

Total distance travelled = OA + AO = 100 m + 100 m = 200 m