Which of the following physical quantities is equivalent to the total path length covered by a moving body?

Question

Examoogle · Accepted Answer

The correct answer is Option B: Distance. Distance is a scalar quantity defined as the total path length covered by a moving body during its motion, regardless of the direction. Unlike displacement, which only considers the shortest straight-line distance between the initial and final positions, distance accounts for every single meter traveled along the actual path.

Step-by-Step Solution & Concepts:
Distance is a scalar quantity defined as the total path length covered by a moving body during its motion, regardless of the direction. Unlike displacement, which only considers the shortest straight-line distance between the initial and final positions, distance accounts for every single meter traveled along the actual path.

Working Principle: When an object moves from one position to another, the actual length of the trajectory traced out by the object constitutes the distance. It is always positive or zero (never negative) and is measured in meters ($m$) in the SI system.

Key Formulas: $Distance = \sum |\Delta s|$ — Sum of all incremental path lengths; $Displacement = \vec{x}_f - \vec{x}_i$ — Change in position vector

Key Points: Distance is a scalar quantity possessing magnitude only, no specific direction.; Displacement is a vector quantity possessing both magnitude and direction.; Distance covered can never decrease with time for a moving body; it is always non-decreasing.; Magnitude of displacement can be less than or equal to the distance covered ($|\vec{s}| \le 	ext{Distance}$).

Advantages: Distance provides the exact fuel consumption metric for vehicles regardless of winding roads.

Disadvantages: Distance does not give information about the final location relative to the start point.

Applications: Odometer readings in cars and motorcycles to measure total path traveled.; Jogging or marathon route measurements.

Additional Info: Option A (Displacement) represents the shortest vector distance between start and end points.. Option C (Velocity) is displacement per unit time ($v = \frac{\Delta x}{\Delta t}$), which is a vector.. Option D (Speed) is distance per unit time ($s = \frac{	ext{Distance}}{	ext{Time}}$).

Answer: B is correct — Distance is the physical quantity equivalent to the total path length covered by a moving body.

Exam Tip: In numerical problems from railway and engineering exams (like RRB ALP), always verify whether the question asks for 'total distance' (add all segments) or 'net displacement' (vector difference between start and end coordinates).

Feature	Distance	Displacement
Definition	Total path length covered	Shortest straight-line distance between initial & final points
Type	Scalar quantity	Vector quantity
Can be zero?	No, if motion has occurred	Yes, for a complete closed loop return

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