Question

Difference between distance and displacement.

Answer 1

DISTANCE
distance is the scaler quantity
it is the whole part covered by a person
DISPLACEMENT
displacement is a vector quantity
it is the shortest path covered by a person

Answer 2

DISTANCE

• It may be called as the actual length of path travelled by an object by an object.
• It is a scalar quantity because it depends only on length of path not the direction of motion of the object.
• It can never be negative as it doesn't depend on direction.
• Once the object started moving then the distance covered cannot be zero.
• It may be greater or equal to displacement of an object.

DISPLACEMENT

• It is actually the shortest distance between the final and initial point of object.
• It is a vector quantity as it depends on magnitude as well as direction of motion of the object.
• It can be negative if the direction of motion is going opposite.
• Once object started moving then displacement may be zero if the final point is on the initial point.
• It may be smaller or equal to distance covered by object.