Can displacement be greater than, less than, or equal to total distance?

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SUMMARY

Displacement can never be greater than total distance traveled; it can only be less than or equal to it. Displacement is defined as the net change in position, calculated by subtracting the initial position from the final position. In contrast, total distance accounts for the entire path taken, regardless of direction. Therefore, in any hypothetical scenario, the relationship between displacement and total distance remains consistent.

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In a hypothetical situation, including every type of hypothetical situations, can a displacement be greater than, less than, or equal to the total distance?
 
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jlyu002@ucr.e said:
In a hypothetical situation, including every type of hypothetical situations, can a displacement be greater than, less than, or equal to the total distance?
What do you think, and why ?
 
I think it can be less than or equal to, but never greater than because displacement is always going to the net distance; in other words, the final distance subtracted from the initial distance.
 

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