Question

Displacement is a vector quantity. Explain with diagram​

Answer 1

Answer and Explanation:

Distance and Displacement

Distance is a scalar quantity.  It measures the total distance travelled, no matter in which direction.  

Displacement is a vector quantity.  It is the length measured from the starting point to the finishing point in a straight line. Its direction must be stated.    

Example  

A girl walks 3 km due north then turns and walks 4 km due east as shown in the diagram.  

Calculate

(a)  The total distance travelled

(b)  The girl’s final displacement relative to her starting position.

Solution

(a)  Total distance = 3 km + 4 km

                              = 7 km

(b)  (to calculate displacement, we need to draw a vector diagram)  

(this solution involves using Phythagoras and trig functions (SOH-CAH=TOA), but you can also solve these types of problems using a scale diagram).