The Basic difference between Distance and displacement is that Distance is the length of a path between two points, while Displacement is the shortest distance between two points. Distance is the scalar quantity while Displacement is the vector quantity.
Difference between distance and displacement in tabular form
| DISTANCE | DISPLACEMENT |
|
Definition |
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| Distance between two points is the distance covered by the body. It may or may not be in a straight line. | it IS a straight line distance between the initial and final position of a body.
|
|
Nature |
|
| It is a scalar quantity | It is a vector quantity |
|
Unit |
|
| Its S.l unit is a meter (m) | Its S.l unit is a meter (m) |
Read Also: Differences b/w speed and Velocity
What is Displacement?
The distance covered by a body in a particular direction in a unit time is known as displacement. Being a vector quantity it has magnitude as well as direction.
Example of Displacement
Consider two points A and B such that a body Is placed at point A.
The body can move from point A to point B along different paths I.II, III, IV, as shown In figure.
Q can be seen from fig. that the body traveled the distance in a straight line along the path only.
The distance traveled by the body between the points A and B along the path IV is the shortest distance and is covered ¡n definite direction. This distance Is known as displacement.
Related Topics:
- How many types of motion are there in Physics?
- Equations of motion
- What are the three laws of motion?
- Examples of force
- Branches of Physics
- Newton’s second law
