Distance and Displacement

Distance

• The total length travelled

• How far an object is from its starting point in a straight line

• Location of an object relative to a defined zero point

Displacement

• The total length travelled

• How far an object is from its starting point in a straight line

• Location of an object relative to a defined zero point

Displacement is distance combined with

• direction
• speed
• velocity
• magnitude

Tags

CCSS.HSN.VM.A.3

What is a difference between distance and displacement

• Distance is measured in seconds and displacement is measured in metres

• Distance is always shorter than displacement

• Displacement can be equal to zero if the object finishes back where it started

• Distance can be equal to infinite when only a small distance has been travelled

If you draw a straight line on a map to see how far you are from where you started, you just found your ______.

• Distance

• Displacement

• Position

• Time

Which of the following describes distance and displacement correctly?

• The blue arrow shows distance and the orange arrows show displacement
• The blue arrow shows displacement and the orange arrows show distance
• Both arrows show distance only
• Both arrows show distance and displacement

A basketball ball rolls forward 6 metres, hits a wall and rolls back 3 metres. It travelled a total distance of:

• 9 metres

• 6 metres

• 3 metres

• 0 metres

Bill runs 400 metres to Andy's house, turns around, and runs 400 metres back home. What is Bill's distance?

• 0 metres

• 400 metres

• 800 metres

• 1600 metres

Bill runs 400 metres to Andy's house, turns around, and runs 400 metres back home. What is Bill's displacement?

• 0 metres

• 400 metres

• 800 metres

• 1600 metres

Jermaine runs exactly 2 laps around a 400 metre track. What is the displacement?

• 800 m

• 400 m

• 0 m

• 200 m