A.1 - 1 - distance and displacement

What is the primary difference between distance and displacement?

• Distance is a vector, while displacement is a scalar.

• Distance is the straight-line path, while displacement is the total path taken.

• Displacement is a vector that points from where the object started to where it ended, regardless of the path it took, while distance is the total scalar length of the actual path.

• Displacement is always greater than or equal to distance.

In Example 1, a person walks 3m up, 3m to the right, and 3m down. What is the total distance traveled?

• 3m

• 6m

• 9m

• 0m

In Example 1, a person walks 3m up, 3m to the right, and 3m down. What is their displacement?

• 9m right

• 3m right

• 0m

• 6m right

In Example 2, a person walks 3m up and 4m to the right. What is their displacement?

• 7m

• 5m

• 1m

• 12m

Which statement accurately describes the relationship between distance and displacement?

• Distance can be smaller than displacement.

• Displacement can be larger than distance.

• Distance is always greater than or equal to displacement.

• Distance is always equal to displacement.

On a number line where right is positive, a person moves from 0m to +5m, then moves back to +3m. What is the total displacement?

• +7m

• +3m

• -2m

• +5m