# Can displacement be negative?

Apr 28, 2017

Someone has asked for a real life example of negative displacement, so here is one below.

#### Explanation:

Displacement can be negative because it defines a change in position of an object while carefully monitoring its direction.

For our example the object we will consider is you. If you leave your present position and walk down a hallway to get a drink and you walk $6 m$ to where the drink is located, your displacement is $6 m$ in the $h$ (hallway) direction. We will take this first trip as the positive direction

Then you walk back towards your original location in the $- h$ opposite direction. But Surien calls you to her office which is $15 m$ further past your office. It is still in the direction $- h$ opposite the drink location.

Your displacement is now $6 m - 6 m - 15 m = - 15 m$ in the $h$ direction. Notice both displacements had to be subtracted from the $+ h$ of your first trip because both were in the $- h$ direction from it.

$6 m - 6 m - 15 m + 15 m = 0 m$ in the $h$ direction.
While accomplishing this feat, you have managed to cover a distance of $6 m + 6 m + 15 m + 15 m = 42 m$