displacement activity. distance tells you how much ground the object has covered how far something...
TRANSCRIPT
Displacement Activity
Distance Tells you how much ground the object has coveredHow far something has goneIs a scalar quantityFor example; 3 meters DisplacementTells you the change in position of an objectHow far you are from where you started plus the direction you went ( not the total distance you covered) Is a vector quantityFor example; 5meters to the westDisplacement = position final – position initial
1. Draw this number line.
2. Place the letter a, b and c along your number line at different points.
3. Count the distance from zero to each object letter.
4. Label each point. Pay attention to the sign (+/-).
5. Draw this number line.
6. Move each letter to a new spot and plot the
positions on the number line . 7. Count the distance from zero to each object
letter. Label each point. Pay attention to the sign (+/-).
8. Calculate the displacement (Δx = x2 – x1) for
each object. Show your work.9. Follow the example: A: x1
= + 2cm x2 = -4 cm
Δx = x2 – x1
Δx = (-4) – (+2) = -6 cm
10. Draw this number line.
11. Move each letter to a third spot and plot the positions on the number line.
12. Calculate the displacement – between the second and third round positions -- (Δx = x3 – x2) for each letter.
13. Calculate each object’s TOTAL displacement (between the first and third positions). Show your work.
14. Calculate each object’s TOTAL distance traveled (between the first and third positions). Show your work.
15. Explain why you did these two calculations differently. Why does one include the sign and the other not?
Distance is a scalar measure of the interval between two locations measured along the actual path connecting them.
Displacement is a vector measure of the interval between two locations measured along the shortest path connecting them.
16. Your brother borrowed the scissors from your room and now you want to use them. Do you care about the distance the scissors have traveled or their displacement? Explain your answer.
17. You’re trying to predict how long it’s going to take to get to Atlanta for the long weekend. Do you care about the distance you’ll travel or your displacement? Explain your answer.