Question

After a displacement of 17 m, a train on a straight track is at the position xf = –2.5 m
What was the train’s initial position?

Answer 1

Answer:

$x_i = -19.5 m$

Explanation:

As we know that the displacement is defined as the change in the position.

So we will have

$displacement = x_f - x_i$

here we know that

displacement = 17 m

initial position = ?

final position is given as

$x_f = -2.5 m$

so we have

$(-2.5 m) - x_i = 17 m$

$x_i = -2.5 - 17$

$x_i = -19.5 m$

Answer 2

Explanation:

Given that,

Displacement of the train, $d=17\ m$

Final position of the train, $x_f=-2.5\ m$\

To find,

The initial position of the train.

Solution,

The displacement of an object is the shortest path covered. We know that,

Displacement = final position - initial position

Put all the values,

$d=x_f-x_i$

So,

$x_i=x_f-d\\\\x_i=-2.5-17\\\\x_i=-19.5\ m$

Answer:

The initial position of the train is $-19.5\ m$.

Reference:

https://brainly.com/question/17131235