Distance and Displacement
Introduction
In physics, when an object moves, we describe its motion using distance and displacement. Both terms may look similar, but they have different meanings. Understanding the difference between them is very important in the study of motion.
Distance and Displacement
Distance is the total length of the actual path travelled by an object. It is a scalar quantity, which means it has only magnitude and no direction.
Displacement is the shortest straight-line distance from the initial position to the final position of the object. It is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction.
Example 1
A person walks 4 km towards east and then 3 km towards west.
- Distance = 4 km + 3 km = 7 km
- Displacement = 4 − 3 = 1 km East
Example 2
A person walks 3 km towards north and then 4 km towards east.
- Distance = 3 km + 4 km = 7 km
- Displacement = √(3² + 4²) = √25 = 5 km (North-East)
Important Points
- Distance is the total path covered by an object.
- Distance is always positive and scalar.
- Displacement is the shortest straight-line distance.
- Displacement can be positive, negative, or zero.
Conclusion
Distance tells us how much path an object has travelled, while displacement tells us how far the object is from its starting point. Both are important in understanding motion clearly.
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