Factors of distance and displacement

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• Can Be Non-Linear: Distance can be measured along a straight line or a curved path. For example, if you drive a winding road from point A to B, the distance traveled will be greater than the straight-line distance between those points.
• Always Positive: Distance is always a non-negative value. There's no such thing as a negative distance; you can't travel a negative length.

Displacement:

• Shortest Path Between Points: Displacement refers to the shortest straight-line distance between the starting and ending points of an object's movement. It's a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (a number) and direction.
• Direction Matters: The direction of the displacement is crucial. For example, moving 10 meters east is different from moving 10 meters west.
• Can Be Zero: Displacement can be zero if the object returns to its starting point, even if it traveled a significant distance along a winding path.

Here's a table summarizing the key differences:

Factor	Distance	Displacement
Measurement	Total length of path traveled	Shortest straight-line distance between start and end points
Type of Quantity	Scalar (magnitude only)	Vector (magnitude and direction)
Can Be Non-Linear	Yes	No (always measured in a straight line)
Can Be Zero	No (always positive)	Yes (if object returns to starting point)

Export to Sheets Example: Imagine walking around a rectangular track. The distance you travel might be 400 meters (length of the track perimeter). However, your displacement would be 0 meters since you end up at the same starting point.  

Sample Answer

     

Distance and displacement are both measurements used to describe the separation between two points, but they have key differences. Here's a breakdown of the factors that influence each:

Distance:

• Total Length Traveled: Distance refers to the total length of the path actually traveled, regardless of direction. It's a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude (a number), not direction.