Introduction to Distance and Displacement

----------------------------------------------------------

When body changes its position with respect to its surroundings with the passage of time, the body is said to be in motion.

(i) It has a reference.

(ii) Changes its position with the increase of time.

(i) Rest:

When a body occupies the same position with respect to its surroundings the body is said to be at rest.

(ii) Distance:

It is the actual length of a path traveled by a moving body irrespective to direction in which the body moves. S.I unit of distance is metre (m).

(iii) Displacement:

The shortest distance of a moving body from the point of reference in a specific direction is called displacement. S.I unit is also metre (m).

It has both magnitude and direction e.g. 40 m ----> East.

(iv) Scalar:

The physical quantities having only magnitude are called scalar quantities e.g. distance, mass, time, speed, volume, length.

(v) Vector:

The physical quantities having both magnitude and direction are called scalar quantities e.g. displacement, velocity, acceleration.

Distance	Displacement
The actual path travel by the body.	The shortest distance between the initial and the final point.
Distance has a scaler quantity.	Displacement has a vector quantity.
Distance cannot be zero.	Displacment can be zero.
Distance has no direction	Displacement has a definite direction.