A Child's Circular Adventure: Calculating Distance and Displacement

Then, you can simply divide those values by 2 to get the distance and displacement after going half way around the track.In summary, the problem asks for the distance traveled and displacement of a child who rides on a pony around a circular track with a radius of 4.5 meters after going half way around the track. To solve this, we can consider the geometry of the track and the definition of displacement. The shape of the track is a circle, and by dividing the distance traveled and displacement for one full lap by 2, we can obtain the values for after going half way around the track.
  • #1
nerdygirl4
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Homework Statement



A child rides on a pony around a circular track with a radius of 4.5 meters.

Homework Equations



What is her distance traveled and displacement after she has gone half way around the track?

The Attempt at a Solution

 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF;
The way we work is that you attempt the problem as far as you can, showing how you are thinking about it, and we help you where you get stuck.

In this case - think about the geometry, and the definition of "displacement".
What shape is the track?
 
  • #3
Perhaps start by considering what the distance traveled and displacement would be had the child gone the whole way round the track.
 

FAQ: A Child's Circular Adventure: Calculating Distance and Displacement

What is the difference between distance and displacement?

Distance is the total length traveled by an object, while displacement is the straight-line distance from the starting point to the ending point.

How is displacement calculated?

Displacement is calculated by finding the difference between the final position and the initial position of an object. It is represented by the symbol Δx, which is the change in position along the x-axis.

Is distance always greater than displacement?

No, distance and displacement can be equal if the object travels in a straight line from the starting point to the ending point. However, in most cases, distance is greater than displacement since it takes into account the total path traveled.

Can displacement be negative?

Yes, displacement can be negative if the object moves in the negative direction along the chosen coordinate system. Positive displacement indicates movement in the positive direction.

How is the Pythagorean theorem related to calculating displacement?

The Pythagorean theorem can be used to calculate the displacement of an object if it travels in a straight line. By using the theorem, the displacement can be found by taking the square root of the sum of the square of the horizontal and vertical displacement.

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