Question

The location of a particle has changed. What can we say about the displacement and the distance covered by the particle?
A. Neither can be zero.
B. One may be zero.
C. Both may be zero.
D. One is +ve, other is -ve.

Answer 1

Hint: According to the question, it is stated that the location of a particle is changed. It means that the position of a particle changes with time. We have to understand what the distance of a particle refers to and also what displacement of a particle resembles.

Complete answer:

Now, let us come to the fact that what are the changes in distance and displacement that occur when the position or location of a particle is changed.When a body changes its position with time the total amount of the movement of the particle from the initial point to the final point is defined as distance. It is a measurable quantity. It is used in almost every type of measurement and has its application in a diverse field.

Distance is a scalar quantity. Displacement of a particle is defined as the shortest distance between the initial position to the final position of the particle. It may also be said as the distance of an imaginary perpendicular line drawn from the initial position of a particle to the final position.Displacement is a vector quantity. So, if the position of a particle is changed means that the initial and final position are different, they both distance and displacement have some values.

So, the correct option is A.

Note:It must be noted that displacement of a particle can be zero. But the distance of a particle can never be zero. If the initial position and final position of a body is the same, then it covers a particular distance, but the displacement is zero. A particle unchanged in its location may have a distance but never displacement.