Chegg Textbook Solutions for College Physics Volume 1 7th Edition: Chapter 2

Chapter: Problem:
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    Distance traveled by an object is the change in its position whereas displacement is the change in the initial to final positions of the object.

    Yes, displacement of a person’s trip can be zero even though the distance involved in the trip is non-zero.

    Consider an example of a person moving from position A to position B covering 5 km and again returning to the same point A. So, the total distance traveled by the person will be 10 km. whereas, as the initial and final points are same, the displacement of the person will be zero. Thus, it is possible to have non zero distance for zero displacement.

    The reverse situation is not possible that is for non-zero displacement, the distance will not be zero. Because, measuring the shortest distance is the displacement, so its magnitude will always be equal to or smaller than the distance. So, the distance will not be zero for non-zero displacement.

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