$$10 - 6 = 4\ \mathrm{m}$$\ \text{east}

$$5 - 2 = 3\ \mathrm{m}$$\ \text{east}

Question 1

Which of the following quantities is a vector?

Accepted Answer

Displacement

Question 2

A person walks 10 m east, then 6 m west. What is the total distance traveled?

Accepted Answer

$$10 + 6 = 16\ \mathrm{m}$$

Question 3

A person walks 10 m east, then 6 m west. What is their displacement?

Accepted Answer

$$10 - 6 = 4\ \mathrm{m}$$\ 	ext{east}

Question 4

Which statement best describes the difference between distance and displacement?

Accepted Answer

Distance is the total length traveled; displacement is the change in position with direction.

Question 5

If you walk 4 m east, then 4 m west, what is your displacement?

Accepted Answer

$$0\ \mathrm{m}$$

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT a vector quantity?

Accepted Answer

Distance

Question 7

A car drives 80 miles north, then 80 miles south. What is the car's total displacement?

Accepted Answer

$$0\ \mathrm{miles}$$

Question 8

Which of the following best describes a scalar quantity?

Accepted Answer

Has only magnitude

Question 9

A runner completes a lap around a 400 m track, ending where they started. What is their displacement?

Accepted Answer

$$0\ \mathrm{m}$$

Question 10

Which of the following measurements includes both magnitude and direction?

Accepted Answer

10 m right

Question 11

A hiker walks 3 km north, then 4 km east. What is the magnitude of their displacement?

Accepted Answer

$$\sqrt{3^2$ + 4^2$} = 5\ \mathrm{km}$$

Question 12

Which of the following is true about distance?

Accepted Answer

Distance is always positive.

Question 13

A student pushes a box with a force of 100 N to the right. What type of quantity is force?

Accepted Answer

Vector

Question 14

Which of the following is a correct example of a vector quantity?

Accepted Answer

20 miles per hour north

Question 15

If a person walks 5 m east, then 2 m west, what is their displacement?

Accepted Answer

$$5 - 2 = 3\ \mathrm{m}$$\ 	ext{east}

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT necessary to specify a vector quantity?

Accepted Answer

Temperature

Question 17

A cyclist travels 12 km north, then 5 km south. What is the total distance traveled?

Accepted Answer

$$12 + 5 = 17\ \mathrm{km}$$

Question 18

A person walks 6 m east, then 6 m west. What is their total distance and displacement?

Accepted Answer

Distance: $$12\ \mathrm{m}$$, Displacement: $$0\ \mathrm{m}$$

Question 19

Which of the following best describes displacement?

Accepted Answer

Change in position with direction

Question 20

A person walks 8 m north, 3 m east, and 8 m south. What is their displacement from the starting point?

Accepted Answer

$$3\ \mathrm{m}$$\ 	ext{east}

Vectors, Scalars, Distance, and Displacement: Fundamental Concepts in Physics Measurement

Study Guide - Practice Questions