What is the Difference Between Distance and Displacement?

The main difference between distance and displacement lies in their definitions and how they are calculated. Here are the key differences:

1. Definition: Distance is the complete length of the path between any two points, while displacement is the direct length between any two points when measured along the minimum path.
2. Denotation: Distance is denoted as 'd', while displacement is denoted as 's'.
3. Direction Consideration: To calculate distance, the direction is not considered, as it is a scalar quantity and only has magnitude. To calculate displacement, the direction is taken into consideration, as it is a vector quantity and has both magnitude and direction.
4. Quantity: Distance is a scalar quantity, meaning it has only magnitude, and can only be positive. Displacement is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction, and can be positive or negative depending on the direction relative to a reference point.

In summary, distance measures the actual ground covered and is a scalar quantity, while displacement is a vector quantity that represents the straight-line distance between two points, considering the direction.

Comparative Table: Distance vs Displacement

Here is a table highlighting the differences between distance and displacement:

Both distance and displacement are measurements used in physics to describe the movement of objects. Distance refers to the total path covered by an object in motion, irrespective of the direction of the path. On the other hand, displacement is the total change in an object's position along with the direction of the path. Some similarities between distance and displacement include the same SI unit (meter), the requirement of a reference point for measurement, and being equal in magnitude when the object moves in a straight line.