Difference between Distance and Displacement

The key differences between distance and displacement are based on their nature, measurement, and relation to the motion of an object:

1. Definition:

• Distance: The total length of the path traveled by an object, irrespective of its direction. It tells how much ground has been covered.
• Displacement: The shortest straight-line distance between the starting point and the final point of an object’s motion, along with the direction. It tells how far out of place the object is.

2. Nature:

• Distance: It is a scalar quantity, which means it only has magnitude (size) and no direction.
• Displacement: It is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction.

3. Value:

• Distance: Always positive and can never decrease as it represents the total path covered.
• Displacement: Can be positive, negative, or zero, depending on the direction of the motion relative to the starting point.

4. Path Dependence:

• Distance: Depends on the actual path taken by the object.
• Displacement: Depends only on the initial and final positions, not the path taken.

5. Magnitude:

• Distance: Always greater than or equal to displacement because it considers the entire path traveled.
• Displacement: Equal to or less than the distance, as it measures the shortest straight line between two points.

6. Example:

• Distance: If a person walks 10 meters forward and then 5 meters backward, the total distance covered is 10+5=1510 + 5 = 1510+5=15 meters.
• Displacement: In the same scenario, the person’s displacement is 5 meters forward, as it is the straight-line distance from the starting point.

Summary Table:

In conclusion, distance measures “how much ground is covered,” while displacement measures “how far and in what direction” from the starting point.