5.1.5

Distance vs Displacement

Test yourself

Distance vs Displacement

Distance and displacement are slightly different. Be careful which one you use.

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Distance

  • Distance is how far an object moves.
  • Distance is a scalar quantity.
    • This is because it contains a magnitude (size) but not a direction.
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Displacement

  • Displacement is the distance an object moves in a straight line from a starting point to a finishing point.
  • Displacement is a vector quantity.
    • This is because it contains a magnitude (size) and direction.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

5.1Basics of Motion

5.2Forces

5.3Effects of Forces

5.4Pressure

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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