4.5.6.1.1 Distance and Displacement

Question 1

Distance:

Answer 1

• total distance travelled
• is a scalar quantity (has magnitude)

Question 2

Displacement:

Answer 2

• includes both the distance an object moves, measured in a straight line from the start point to the finish point (as the crow flies) and the direction of that straight line
• vector quantity (magnitude and direction)
• displacement is an arrow in a given direction
• we are all familiar with the idea of ‘distance’ - it is how far we travel in total when travelling from one place to another and has no sense of direction
• ‘displacement’ - how far the finishing point is from the starting point but it also has a direction (arrow)
• the length of the arrow indicates the magnitude and the displacement of the bearing of the arrow is the direction of the displacement
• the total displacement can equal 0