A drone flies 22 km West, then 12 km North, then 13 km East, then 7 km South. Calculate the magnitude of its displacement from the launch point.

Last Updated: 07 Sept 2026

A12 km

B8 km

C54 km

D10.30 km

Correct Answer: 10.30 kmYour Answer: D

Explanation

Step 1: Mark the starting point as O(0,0) and choose East as +x and North as +y. | Step 2: Horizontal calculation: −22 + +13 = -9 km; hence the final point is west of O by 9 km. | Step 3: Vertical calculation: +12 + −7 = 5 km; hence it is north of O by 5 km. | Step 6: The total route is 54 km, but that is not the required shortest distance; the direct displacement is 10.30 km.

Important Notes

Separate total path length from displacement; the question asks for the straight-line gap between start and finish. |
Use East = +x, West = −x, North = +y and South = −y. |
A route may be long while its displacement is small, so never add every segment unless total distance is requested. |
Estimate the answer before selecting an option: the displacement must be less than or equal to the route length. |

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A drone flies 22 km West, then 12 km North, then 13 km East, then 7 km South. Calculate the magnitude of its displacement from the launch point.

Explanation

Important Notes

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