What is the difference between distance and displacement?

Distance is the total length covered by an object, while displacement is the change in position.

Distance is a scalar quantity that refers to the total length covered by an object. It is a measure of how much ground an object has covered regardless of the direction. For example, if a person walks 10 metres to the east and then 5 metres to the west, the distance covered is 15 metres.

Displacement, on the other hand, is a vector quantity that refers to the change in position of an object. It is a measure of the shortest distance between the initial and final positions of an object, taking into account the direction. For example, if a person walks 10 metres to the east and then 5 metres to the west, the displacement is 5 metres to the east. This concept is closely related to the operations with vectors, which are crucial for understanding vector quantities in physics.

Displacement can be zero if the object ends up at the same position where it started. However, the distance covered cannot be zero unless the object does not move at all. Displacement is also affected by the direction of motion, whereas distance is not.

In physics, displacement is often used to calculate the velocity and acceleration of an object, as it takes into account the direction of motion. Understanding the difference between distance and displacement is crucial in accurately describing the motion of objects. For more detailed examples and explanations, explore distance vs displacement.

A-Level Physics Tutor Summary: Distance measures the total path travelled, regardless of direction, while displacement is the straight line from start to finish, including direction. Distance is about how far you've gone, even in circles, but displacement focuses on your net change in position. To gain further insight into how these concepts apply in physics, see our page on understanding scalars and vectors. Understanding these differences is key for discussing movement, as displacement also helps calculate velocity and acceleration in physics.