Motion | Distance and Displacement | Physics | Infinity Learn

Infinity Learn NEET4 minutes read

Distance is the total length covered without direction, measured in meters, while displacement includes direction and represents the change in position from start to end point. Taxis charge based on distance traveled rather than displacement, evident when a passenger takes a round trip and the meter shows the total distance covered.

Insights

  • Distance is the total length traveled without regard to direction, measured in meters. Displacement, however, factors in direction, representing the change in position from the starting point to the final point, making it a vector quantity.
  • Taxis charge based on distance traveled, not displacement, as seen when a passenger takes a round trip to a neighboring town. This highlights the practical application of understanding the distinction between distance and displacement in real-world scenarios.

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Recent questions

  • What is distance?

    The distance is the total length covered when moving from one place to another, measured in meters. It is a scalar quantity, not specifying direction.

  • What is displacement?

    Displacement is the "distance with direction," representing the change in position from the starting point to the final point. It is a vector quantity, unlike distance.

  • How are distance and displacement different?

    Distance is the actual path traveled, while displacement is the straight-line distance between the initial and final points, considering direction.

  • How do taxis charge passengers?

    Taxis charge based on the distance traveled, not on displacement. For example, a round trip to a neighboring town will reflect the total distance covered on the meter.

  • Why is displacement considered a vector quantity?

    Displacement is a vector quantity because it includes both the magnitude (distance) and direction of the change in position from the starting point to the final point.

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Summary

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Difference Between Distance and Displacement

  • Distance is the total length covered when moving from one place to another, measured in meters. It is a scalar quantity, not specifying direction. Displacement, on the other hand, is "distance with direction," representing the change in position from the starting point to the final point, making it a vector quantity.
  • While distance is the actual path traveled, displacement is the straight-line distance between the initial and final points, considering direction. Taxis charge based on distance traveled, not on displacement, as seen when a passenger takes a round trip to a neighboring town and the meter reflects the total distance covered.
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