Question

What is the correct displacement for the following vectors: 4 km south, 2 km north, 5 km south, and 5 km north?


11 km west

2 km south

6 km south

16 km total

Answer 1

To calculate the displacement from the given vectors, we need to sum up the distances in the north-south direction.

1. **4 km south**
2. **2 km north**
3. **5 km south**
4. **5 km north**

Now, we can add the distances:

**Southward movement:**
- 4 km south + 5 km south = 9 km south

**Northward movement:**
- 2 km north + 5 km north = 7 km north

Now, we can combine the results:

- Total southward displacement = 9 km south
- Total northward displacement = 7 km north

Now, we subtract the northward displacement from the southward displacement to find the net displacement:

\[
9 \text{ km south} - 7 \text{ km north} = 2 \text{ km south}
\]

Thus, the resultant or correct displacement is **2 km south**.