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Question:

Can there be displacement of an object in the absence of any force acting on it?

Solution:

When an object moves with a constant velocity (v), then it gets displaced in the direction of motion but the net external force experienced by the object is zero. Fexternal = ma. If the object moves with constant velocity, acceleration is zero. Since a = 0 ⇒ Fexternal = 0. Using s = ut + (1/2)at2 ⇒ Displacement s = ut (∵ a = 0). Hence, an object can have a displacement in the absence of any external force acting on it.