Question:

The numerical ratio of displacement to the distance covered is always:

Updated On: Nov 12, 2024
  • less than one
  • equal to one
  • equal to or less than one
  • equal to or greater than one
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The Correct Option is C

Solution and Explanation

Displacement is defined as the change in position of body from $ A\left( x=0 \right) $ to $ C=\left( x=5 \right) $ , while distance is the total path length $ \left( ABC \right) $ travelled by the body.

Displacement is vector quantity having both magnitude and direction, while distance is a scalar quantity. Also displacement is always less than distance, hence numerical ratio of displacement and distance travelled must be either one or less than one.
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Concepts Used:

Distance and Displacement

Distance:

The sum of the length of the path traveled by an object from one place to another is called distance. The path may or may not be directly from the initial point to the final point.

Distance is a scalar quantity and has only magnitude, also does not have any direction. 

For example,

From the particular point, if a car travels to the east for 5 km and takes a turn to travel north for another 8 km, the total distance traveled by car shall be 13 km. The distance can never be zero or negative but should be always more than the displacement of the object. The distance of the object gives complete information about the path traveled by the object.

Read More: Difference between Distance and Displacement

Displacement:

The length of the shortest path from the initial point to the final point is called displacement. It is a vector quantity that consists of magnitude as well as direction.

For example,

Let's consider the same example given above, the total displacement of the object will be the length of the line joining the two positions. The displacement of an object is usually shorter or equal to the distance traveled by the object. The displacement of the object does not give the proper information about the path traveled by the object.