Distance and displacement

a scalar quantity that refers to the total length of path travelled by an object. SI unit is m (km, mi)

• Distance

• Displacement

where the object goes-Ex. North-East-West and South or up-down-left-right and sideward forward and backward

• speed

• direction

• distance

Tags

NGSS.3-PS2-2

is a vector quantity that describes the shortest distance between initial position and final position of an object, plus the direction to where the object is moving to. (distance + direction)

• distance

• displacement

Henry rides a boat for a fishing trip at 6 meters South. After 1 hour of waiting no fishes were caught, so he goes 4 meters west. Then he follows a school of fish 2 meters South. How long did he travel? Is the boats’ displacement equal to zero? What is his displacement?

• 12 meters; 12 meters west

• 12 meters; 12 meters south

• 12 meters; 0 meter west

• distance = 12 m, displ = 9 m

• distance = 12 m, displ = 12 m

• distance = 9 m, displ = 12 m

An athlete runs around a track that is 100 meters long three times, then stops.

What is the athlete’s distance and displacement?

• Distance = 0; Dspl = 300 m east

• Distance = 300 m; Dspl = 0

• Distance = 30 m; Dspl = 0

• 5 meters

• 2 meters

• 3 meters

• 5 meters

• 7 meters

• 8 meters

• distance = 3 m; dspl = +3 m

• distance = +3 m; dspl = +3 m

• distance = 3 m; dspl = -3 m

• distance = 30 m; dspl = 16 m

• distance = 16 m; dspl = 46 m

• distance = 16 m; dspl = 30 m