If the displacement of a particle is zero, then distance covered by it

Options

A. must be zero
B. may or may not be zero
C. cannot be zero
D. depends upon the particle

Answer

To solve the question, "If the displacement of a particle is zero, then distance covered by it," we need to analyze the concepts of displacement and distance in physics.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Definitions**:
- **Displacement**: It is the shortest distance from the initial position to the final position of the particle, along with the direction. It can be positive, negative, or zero.
- **Distance**: It is the total path length traveled by the particle, regardless of direction. It is always a non-negative quantity.

2. **Consider an Example**:
- Imagine a particle moving in a circular path. Let’s say the particle starts at point A, travels around the circle, and returns to point A.

3. **Calculate Displacement**:
- In this example, the initial position and the final position of the particle are the same (both are point A).
- Therefore, the displacement is calculated as:
\[ \text{Displacement} = \text{Final Position} - \text{Initial Position} = A - A = 0 \]

4. **Calculate Distance**:
- While the displacement is zero, we need to calculate the distance traveled by the particle.
- The distance traveled is the length of the path taken by the particle, which in the case of a circular path is the circumference of the circle:
\[ \text{Distance} = \text{Circumference} = 2\pi r \]
- Here, \( r \) is the radius of the circular path.

5. **Conclusion**:
- In this scenario, we see that the displacement is zero, but the distance covered by the particle is not zero (it is \( 2\pi r \)).
- Therefore, we conclude that if the displacement of a particle is zero, the distance covered by it may or may not be zero. It can be non-zero depending on the path taken.

### Final Answer:
The distance covered by the particle can be non-zero even if the displacement is zero.