Displacement from time and velocity example | One-dimensional motion | Physics | Khan Academy

TL;DR

Marcia travels south for 1 minute at 5 meters per second. Her displacement is 300 meters south.

Transcript

Let's do one more example dealing with displacement, velocity, and time. So we have if Marcia travels for 1 minute at 5 meters per second to the south, how much will she be displaced? Let me do it this way. We know that velocity is equal to displacement divided by time. And it's really, once again, it is change in time. But we'll just say time. Tha... Read More

Key Insights

• 🧘 Displacement is the change in position, taking into account both magnitude and direction.
• ⌛ Velocity is calculated by dividing displacement by time.
• ⌛ Time and velocity are inversely proportional in displacement calculations.
• 🤪 Displacement values can be negative if the motion goes against the chosen positive direction.
• 🧘 Displacement represents the change in position, whereas distance is the total length traveled.
• ⌛ Units of velocity and time need to be consistent for accurate displacement calculations.
• 😑 Displacement can be expressed as distance with a specific direction.

Questions & Answers

Q: How is displacement calculated?

Displacement is calculated by multiplying velocity by time. It represents the change in position, taking into account both magnitude and direction.

Q: What units are used for velocity and time in displacement calculations?

Velocity is typically measured in meters per second, and time is measured in seconds. Both units need to be consistent for accurate displacement calculations.

Q: If a person travels north, will the displacement be negative?

Yes, displacement can be negative if the motion is in the opposite direction of the chosen positive direction. In this case, traveling north would result in a negative displacement value.

Q: How is displacement different from distance?

Displacement considers the change in position from the starting point to the endpoint, whereas distance is the total length traveled regardless of direction.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Marcia travels south for 1 minute at a velocity of 5 meters per second.

• Displacement is calculated by multiplying velocity by time.

• Marcia's displacement is 300 meters south.