Question

The total path length is always equal to the magnitude of the displacement vector of a particle.

(a) True

(b) False

I had been asked this question in unit test.

Asked question is from Motion in a Plane in division Laws of Motion of Engineering Physics I

Answer 1

Correct answer is (b) False

For explanation: The displacement depends only on the end points while the path length depends on the actual path. The two quantities are equal only if the direction of motion of the object does not change. In all other cases, the path length is greater than the magnitude of displacement.