Yes, displacement of an object is possible even in the absence of a force. If an object is already in motion, it can continue to move with a constant velocity (no acceleration) without any force acting on it, which means it will experience displacement. This is consistent with Newton’s first law of motion, which states that an object in motion will stay in motion with a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external force.
Elaboration:
Displacement:
Displacement is the change in position of an object. It’s a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (distance) and direction.
Newton’s First Law (Inertia):
This law describes the tendency of an object to resist changes in its state of motion. An object at rest will remain at rest, and an object in motion will continue moving with the same speed and in the same direction unless a force acts upon it.
Constant Velocity:
If an object is moving with a constant velocity, it’s not accelerating. This means its speed and direction are not changing.
Example:
Imagine a puck gliding across a frictionless ice surface. If no forces (like friction or air resistance) act on it, it will continue to move at a constant speed in a straight line, experiencing displacement.
Zero Net Force:
Even though forces might be present (like gravity pulling on the puck), they can be balanced out by other forces (like the normal force from the ice). If the net force (the sum of all forces) is zero, the object will continue moving with its current velocity.