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From: Silpa Yalamanchili
Date: 8/22/07
Time: 6:18:46 PM
Remote Name: 134.53.26.99
If the runner ran a 400m dash around a track, they would end up at the same place that they began, making their displacement 0, right? Delta X = 0yardline - 0yardline = 0. The book does not address whether we should count the 400meters as a displacement. In my opinion, technically there is no displacement because the displacement equation does not take into account anything in between the starting point and the endpoint. To further explain why I think that, think of this: someone could walk a straight line from point A to point B and their displacement would be the same as if that person walked zig zagged, or even doubled back before ending at point B. If someone has a different opinion/explanation it would be welcome!