A person can use three possible paths to move from place A to B. It can be used to illustrate the meaning of distance and displacement. So, if the person takes the purple path, they cover a distance of 16 km from A to B. If they take the red path, they cover a distance of 24 km. However, if the person then moves back from B to A along any of the three paths, the total distance covered would be the same (either 16 km or 24 km), but the net displacement would be zero because the person would be back at their starting point, A.
“ The total length of a path followed by an object is called Distance.”
“The distance measured in a straight line along a specific path or direction is called Displacement.”
OR
“The shortest distance between two points is known as Displacement.”
| Distance | Displacement |
|---|---|
| The total length covered by an object during motion | The shortest distance between the initial and final position of an object |
| Scalar | Vector |
| Metre (m) | Metre (m) |
| Indicates the path taken by an object | Indicates the overall change in position of an object |
| If you walk 2 km north and then 3 km south, your total distance is 5 km. | If you walk 2 km north and then 3 km south, your displacement is 1 km south (distance between starting point and final point) |