Practicing Distance and Displacement

Front

What is distance?

Back

Distance is the total length of the path traveled by an object, regardless of direction.

Front

What is displacement?

Back

Displacement is the shortest distance from the initial to the final position of an object, along with the direction.

Front

How do you calculate total distance?

Back

Total distance is calculated by adding up all the lengths of the paths taken.

Front

How do you calculate displacement?

Back

Displacement is calculated by subtracting the initial position from the final position.

Front

If Jerry walked 2 km to school and then 6 km to the park, what is his total distance?

Back

8 km

Front

If a cheetah moves 100 meters north and then returns to the starting point, what is its displacement?

Back

0 meters

Front

What happens to displacement if you return to your starting point?

Back

The displacement is zero because the initial and final positions are the same.

Front

What is the displacement of a person who walks 3 m east and then 3 m west?

Back

0 meters

Front

If a jogger runs a complete lap around a circular track, what is their displacement?

Back

0 meters

Front

What is the difference between distance and displacement?

Back

Distance is a scalar quantity (only magnitude), while displacement is a vector quantity (magnitude and direction).