A physics book is moved one time around the perimeter of a table of dimensions 1.0 m by 2.0 m. If the book ends up in its initial position, what is...

Displacement is the shortest distance between the initial and final position. In this case, the book was moved from its initial position and along the perimeter of a table and was brought back to its initial position. Since the initial and final positions of the book are the same, there is no displacement of the book.

Hence, displacement of the book = 0 m.

If we are interested in calculating the distance traveled by the book, we can do so and figure out if it is same as the displacement. The book moved along the perimeter of the table (of dimensions 1 m by 2 m). Hence the total distance traveled by the book is equal to 1 perimeter of the table, which is 6 m (= 2 x 1 + 2 x 2 m). And we can see that distance traveled is not the same as the displacement.

Hope this helps.