Physics
Physics
Problem
A cyclist rides along a straight track at 10 m/s for the first 6 s and then at −5 m/s for the next 4 s. a. (i) Calculate the net displacement of the cyclist after the 10 s. b. (ii) Calculate the total distance travelled in the same interval.Intuitive explanation
This problem is about displacement vs. distance—two quantities that look similar but behave very differently when direction changes. The key insight is that velocity includes direction (the negative sign matters!), so you need to track position carefully: calculate how far the cyclist travels in each phase, paying attention to which direction, then combine them to find the net displacement from the starting point. Distance, by contrast, just adds up the ground covered regardless of direction.
Intuitive explanation
This problem is about displacement vs. distance—two quantities that look similar but behave very differently when direction changes. The key insight is that velocity includes direction (the negative sign matters!), so you need to track position carefully: calculate how far the cyclist travels in each phase, paying attention to which direction, then combine them to find the net displacement from the starting point. Distance, by contrast, just adds up the ground covered regardless of direction.