The difference between distance and displacement can be summarized as follows:
- Distance is a scalar quantity that measures the total length of the path traveled by an object, regardless of direction. It tells you how much ground an object has covered during its motion and is always non-negative. Distance depends on the actual path taken and is measured in units like meters or kilometers
- Displacement is a vector quantity that measures the overall change in position of an object from its starting point to its ending point. It has both magnitude and direction, representing the shortest straight-line distance between the initial and final positions. Displacement can be positive, negative, or zero depending on direction and is independent of the path taken
Key distinctions include:
Feature| Distance| Displacement
---|---|---
Quantity| Scalar| Vector
Definition| Total length of path traveled| Change in position (final -
initial)
Direction| Not considered| Considered (has direction)
Dependence on path| Depends on actual path| Independent of path
Possible values| Always positive or zero| Positive, negative, or zero
Symbol| ddd| sss or Δx\Delta xΔx
Information provided| Total ground covered| Net change in position
For example, if you travel 5 km north and then 3 km south, the distance traveled is 8 km, but the displacement is 2 km north
. If you return to your starting point, displacement is zero, but distance is the total length traveled
. In summary, distance measures how much ground is covered, while displacement measures how far and in what direction the object is from its starting point
