A cross country skier moves 28 meters westward then 62 meters eastward and finally 54 meters westward

The answer is below

Explanation:

A cross-country skier moves 28 meters westward, then 62 meters eastward, and finally 54 meters westward.

For this motion, what is the distance moved?

What is the magnitude and direction of the displacement?

a) The distance moved is the summation of all the distance, therefore:

Distance = Distance first moved westward + Distance moved eastward + Final distance moved westward = 28 m + 62 m + 54 m = 144 m

Distance = 144 m

b) Displacement is a vector quantity (has magnitude and direction). The displacement is the shortest distance from the starting to final point.

Total distance westward = 28 m + 54 m = 82 m

Total distance eastward = 62 m

Displacement =  Total distance westward  - Total distance eastward = 82 m - 62 m = 20 m

Displacement = 20 m westward

The displacement has a magnitude of 20 m and the direction is westward