Displacement and Distance

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Questions and Answers

What is the definition of displacement?

The distance an object has traveled in total
The force acting on an object in motion
The change in an object's position and direction from the starting point (correct)
The speed at which an object is moving

In which situation would an object have zero displacement but a non-zero distance?

An object moving in a circular path and returning to its starting point (correct)
An object moving back and forth along the same path
An object moving in a straight line away from its starting point
An object moving in a straight line back to its starting point

How is displacement different from distance?

Displacement is always greater than distance
Displacement considers the actual path taken, while distance does not (correct)
Displacement is a scalar quantity, while distance is a vector quantity
Displacement is measured in kilometers, while distance is measured in meters

Study Notes

Displacement Definition

Displacement is a measure of the net change in an object's position from its initial to its final position.

Displacement vs. Distance

Displacement is different from distance, as distance is a measure of the total amount of ground covered by an object, regardless of its direction.
An object can have a non-zero distance but a zero displacement if it returns to its initial position.
Example: A car traveling in a circular path returns to its starting point, having zero displacement but a non-zero distance (the circumference of the circle).

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Description

Test your knowledge on displacement and distance and learn how they differ. Explore scenarios where an object can have zero displacement but a non-zero distance.