Difference between Distance and Displacement?
Answers
- Distance
• It is the length of the actual path by object, irrespective of its direction of motion.
• Distance is a scalar quantity.
• Distance covered can never be negative. it is always positive or zero.
• Distance between two given points may be same or different path chosen.
- Displacement
• Displacement is the shortest distance between the initial and final positions of an object in a given direction.
• Displacement is a vector quantity.
• Displacement may be positive, negative or zero.
• Displacement between two given points is always the same.
Explanation:
See the total distance traveled from initial to final position is called Distance.
The net or resultant distance from initial to final position is displacement.
Eg. Suppose you're standing at a point A and you need to get your books from a friend who lives 2 km away.
You went to his house took your books and Came back to point A for studies at your home!
Now here your Total Distance will be 4 but Net Displacement will be 0.