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Distance is the scalar value of how far an object has traveled regardless of direction.

Displacement is the vector value of how far an object has been displaced, meaning how far is it from where it started.

The better way to describe the difference between displacement and distance is here.

1. Displacement is the directed line segment between initial and final position of a moving body.

2. Distance is the total length of path traversed by the moving body irrespective of direction.

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7y ago
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11y ago

Distance is the net movement of an object. Displacement is how far an object has moved IN A PARTICULAR DIRECTION. For example, one may move 300 metres South, then 400 metres West. The displacement is 300 metres South and 400 metres West, whereas the distance moved is (using pythagoras' theorem) 500 metres South-West.

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12y ago

Displacement is a vector quanity that measures the difference between final position and initial position.

Distance is a scalar quanity the measures the total length traveled.

For example, imagine you begin stationary at any location and walk along the outline of a 100ft circumference circle, returning you to your starting location. Your distance traveled will be 100 feet, your displacement will be 0 due to your initial position and final position being identical.

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12y ago

"Displacement" is the difference between the starting point and the end-point,

regardless of what happened in between.

"Distance" typically means everything you had to go through on the way ... every

twist, turn, backup, and zig-zag ... all the mileage you added to the car's odometer

to get from the start point to the end point. That's why the "distance" is almost

always greater than the "displacement" for the same start- and end-points.

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3y ago

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Q: What is the different between distance and displacement?
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Related questions

How can displacement and distance be two different things?

distance is the measure of the length between two points where as displacement is the shortest distance between the points.


What us the different between distance and displacement?

Distance is nondirectional, such as ten feet, displacement is directional, such as ten feet east of my present position.


What is the differences between from distance and displacement?

Distance is a scaler,displacement is a vector


What is difference between amplitude and displacement?

displacement is the vector quantity and the distance is scalar quantity, displacement is the shortest distance between two points.


What is the difference between angular distance and angular displacement?

Here's the easiest answer: They have different names.....


What is thedifference between displacement and distance?

Distance travelled is the total distance covered during the motion and displacement is the distance between the final and initial position.


What is the relationship between displacement and direction?

Displacement is just distance traveled and a direction. For example 40m east is a displacement distance


Why is displacement different than distance?

Displacement is different than distance in that distance refers to how much ground an object has covered when in motion. Displacement is how far out of place the object is, or its overall change in position after being moved.


What is the difference between displacement and speed?

Displacement is a measure of distance. Speed is a measure of the RATE at which the distance is traversed.


What is the ratio of magnitudes of distance and displacement?

There's no firm relationship between the magnitudes of distance and displacement, except that displacement can never be greater than distance. So if you're looking for a ratio, I guess (distance)/(displacement) = or > 1


Can displacement can be zero even when distance is not zero?

No. Distance can be greater than displacement, but not less. The magnitude of the displacement between two points is also the minimum possible distance of a path between the same points.However, the displacement can be zero if the distance is not if the object's starting point and ending point are the same.


Why is displacement of displacement?

The difference between the final and the initial position of an object is called displacement. Unit of displacement is metre . Displacement <= Distance always.