Distance and Displacement - Flashcard 1

Front

What is Distance?

Back

Total length of the path travelled.

Front

What is Displacement?

Back

How far an object is from its starting point.

Front

What type of quantity is Displacement?

Back

Vector.

Front

What type of quantity is Distance?

Back

Scalar.

Front

If Bill runs 400 meters to Andy's house and then 400 meters back home, what is his distance?

Back

800 meters.

Front

If Bill runs 400 meters to Andy's house and then 400 meters back home, what is his displacement?

Back

0 meters.

Front

What is the difference between Distance and Displacement?

Back

Distance is the total path length, while Displacement is the shortest path from the starting point to the endpoint.

Front

If a car travels 60 m east and then 20 m west, what is the total distance traveled?

Back

80 m.

Front

If a car travels 60 m east and then 20 m west, what is the displacement?

Back

40 m east.

Front

What is a Scalar quantity?

Back

A quantity that has only magnitude, such as distance.