What is difference between distance and displacement?

Question

Answer

Distance vs Displacement

Distance and displacement are two terms used in physics to describe the position of an object. While they may seem similar, they are actually very different. Understanding the difference between distance and displacement is important in understanding motion and how objects move.

Distance

Distance is a scalar quantity that refers to how much ground an object has covered despite its starting and ending position. It is the total length of the path taken by an object in motion. Distance is always a positive number and is measured in units such as meters, kilometers, feet, or miles.

For example, if a person walks from point A to point B and then back to point A, the distance traveled is the sum of the distances from A to B and from B back to A. So, if the distance from A to B is 2 kilometers and the distance from B back to A is also 2 kilometers, then the total distance traveled is 4 kilometers.

Displacement

Displacement is a vector quantity that refers to the overall change in position of an object. It is the shortest distance between the starting and ending positions of an object in motion. Displacement is a vector because it has both magnitude (the distance between the starting and ending positions) and direction (the direction of the movement).

For example, if a person walks from point A to point B and then back to point A, their displacement is zero because their starting and ending positions are the same. However, the distance they traveled is not zero because they covered a certain amount of ground.

Key Differences

Some key differences between distance and displacement include:

Distance is a scalar quantity, while displacement is a vector quantity.

Distance is always a positive number, while displacement can be positive, negative, or zero.

Distance is the total length of the path taken, while displacement is the shortest distance between the starting and ending positions.

Distance does not depend on direction, while displacement does.

Conclusion

Distance and displacement are both important concepts in physics, but they are not interchangeable. While distance tells us how much ground an object has covered, displacement tells us the overall change in position of the object. Understanding the difference between distance and displacement is essential in understanding motion and how objects move.

Answer

Answer

Distance is the measure of area which is between two points which is the point of origin or the starting point and ending point of a location. 1. Displacement is actually the distance a person is away from its actual point or the starting point. 2. Distance is a scalar quantity 2.Displacement is a vector quantity 3. Distance is just the magnitude of the interval. 3. Displacement is shortest interval connecting the initial and final points 4. displacement is denoted by s 4. distance is denoted by d 5.distance formula: speed*time 5.Displacement formula: s=vt

Answer

Distance is travelled distance but displacement is a straight line between initial and final position

Answer

Distance is a scalar quantity and displacement is a vector quantity. displacement is measured with reference to a specific point. It is a straight line from starting point to the ending point.It is therefore also the shortest distance between two points.

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