How do you know if an object has changed position? * 1 point a. It is not visible anymore. b. It looks bigger. c. It is farther or closer from a reference point. d. It is on top of a reference point.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct answer: c. It is farther or closer from a reference point.
Explanation (300 words):
To determine if an object has changed its position, we must compare its location relative to a reference point. A reference point is a fixed place or object used to determine whether something is in motion. Option (c) — “It is farther or closer from a reference point” — is the correct answer because motion or change in position is always measured in relation to something else.
For example, imagine you place a book on a table next to a lamp. If the book is moved, you can tell it changed position by observing its new distance from the lamp — your reference point. If the distance is different, then the book has clearly changed position.
Let’s break down why the other choices are incorrect:
- (a) “It is not visible anymore”: This could simply mean the object is blocked or hidden, not that it moved.
- (b) “It looks bigger”: This change in appearance could be due to your own movement (e.g., moving closer to the object), not the object’s movement.
- (d) “It is on top of a reference point”: While this might help identify a location, it doesn’t help determine if the object has changed position unless compared to where it was earlier.
Scientists and engineers often use coordinates or measurements to track position changes precisely. In everyday life, we use visual cues and landmarks. Ultimately, the only reliable way to tell if something has changed position is by checking its distance or direction from a reference point at two different times.
Thus, option (c) is correct because it directly reflects the definition of positional change — movement relative to a fixed reference.