A basketball official runs 20 meters along the sideline in one direction, reverses, and runs 8 meters. What is the distance run? What is the displacement?

Question

I am having problems with my Kinesiology home work. She wants us to draw a diagram as well.

Answer 1

Ok, so the distance run is inclusive of all the distance traveled. In this case, it's 20 + 8 or 28 meters. the total displacement refers to the total distance between the starting point and the ending point, regardless of the total distance traveled. Therefore, if the official ran 20 meters one direction, then 8 meters backwards, his total displacement, or change of position from where he started to where he finished, is 20 - 8 or 12 meters.

 

Let me know if you need more help or assistance drawing the diagram.