Question Detail
Question
A cyclist travels 4 km east, then turns around and travels 3 km west. What is the magnitude of the cyclist's displacement for the entire trip?
Correct Answer
Option A is the correct answer.
Detailed Explanation
Displacement is the shortest distance between the initial and final positions. The cyclist starts at a point, travels 4 km east (position +4 km from start), and then 3 km west (position +1 km from start). The final position is 1 km east of the start, so the magnitude of the displacement is 1 km.
Hint
Displacement depends only on the starting and ending points, not the path taken. Find the net effect of the two motions.