Question

Which statements describe a situation with a displacement of zero? Check all that apply.

traveling south for 30 miles, then turning west and traveling another 30 miles
riding on a Ferris wheel whose entrance and exit are the same
walking around the block, starting from and ending at the same house
riding on an escalator from the bottom floor to the top floor
running exactly one lap around a racetrack

Answer 1

Displacement is zero when the final position equals the initial position. The correct choices:

- riding on a Ferris wheel whose entrance and exit are the same
- walking around the block, starting from and ending at the same house
- running exactly one lap around a racetrack

The other two (south then west, and escalator from bottom to top) end at a different position, so their displacement is not zero.