Distance and Displacement

The distance and direction of an object's change in position from a starting point is its ...

• displacement
• distance
• motion
• reference point

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

• 800

• 400

• 0

• 200

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

• 0 meters
• 400 meters
• 800 meters
• 1600 meters

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

• 0 meters
• 400 meters
• 800 meters
• 1600 meters

Jerry walked from home to school, then from the school to the park. What is his total distance?

• 2 km

• 5 km

• 8 km

• 10 km

Jerry walked from home to school, then from the school to the park. What is his total displacement?

• 2 km E

• 5 km SE

• 8 km E

• 10 km

A person walks 50 metres directly north, stops, and then travels 32 metres directly south.  What is their displacement?

• 82 metres N

• 18 metres N

• 18 metres S

• 82 metres S

A car drives 84 metres forward.  It's displacement and distance would be the same magnitude.

• True

• False

The unit for distance is:

• m
• s
• m/s

Click on image to make it bigger.

• A

• B

• C

• D