Which of the following best explains why displacement is classified as a vector…
PHYSICS · Single correct · CBSE · Physics · Motion in a Plane · Motion in a Plane
Problem
Which of the following best explains why displacement is classified as a vector quantity while distance is not?
(a) Displacement can be negative, whereas distance must always be positive.
(b) Displacement requires choosing an origin in a coordinate system, whereas distance does not, so only displacement is treated as a vector.
(c) Displacement accounts for direction relative to a reference point, whereas distance considers only total path length.
(d) Displacement is always shorter than (or equal to) the distance traveled, which is why the two are classified differently.