Question
A mouse runs 5 m north across the floor before hearing a cat. Then it runs back south along the same path for 1 m and turns west to run under a sofa 3 m away. what is the displacement of the mouse and the total distance it ran
Answers
GPT 3.5
To find the displacement, we need to find the net distance and direction from the starting point to the final position of the mouse.
The mouse runs 5 m north, then runs back 1 m south, so the net distance in the north-south direction is 5 m - 1 m = 4 m south.
Then, it turns west and runs 3 m under the sofa, so the distance in the west direction is 3 m.
Since the mouse did not move in the east direction, the displacement in the east-west direction is 0 m.
Therefore, the displacement of the mouse is 0 m (east-west) + 4 m (north-south) = 4 m south.
To find the total distance, we need to sum up all the distances traveled.
The mouse runs 5 m north + 1 m south + 3 m west, so the total distance is 5 m + 1 m + 3 m = 9 m.
Therefore, the displacement of the mouse is 4 m south, and the total distance it ran is 9 m.
The mouse runs 5 m north, then runs back 1 m south, so the net distance in the north-south direction is 5 m - 1 m = 4 m south.
Then, it turns west and runs 3 m under the sofa, so the distance in the west direction is 3 m.
Since the mouse did not move in the east direction, the displacement in the east-west direction is 0 m.
Therefore, the displacement of the mouse is 0 m (east-west) + 4 m (north-south) = 4 m south.
To find the total distance, we need to sum up all the distances traveled.
The mouse runs 5 m north + 1 m south + 3 m west, so the total distance is 5 m + 1 m + 3 m = 9 m.
Therefore, the displacement of the mouse is 4 m south, and the total distance it ran is 9 m.