Question

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

• A. less than one
• B. equal to one
• C. equal to or less than one
• D. equal to or greater than one

Answer 1

Answer: (C)

equal to or less than one

Answer 2

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.