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Explain the difference between distance and displacement. Provide a scenario where the distance covered is greater than the magnitude of the displacement.

PhysicsClass 9CBSEAnswered 13 May 2026
Answer

Distance is the total path length covered by an object during its motion, irrespective of the direction. It is a scalar quantity. Displacement is the shortest straight-line distance between the initial and final positions of an object, along with its direction. It is a vector quantity.

Scenario: Imagine a person walking from point A to point B, then from point B to point C, and finally from point C back to point A, forming a triangular path. If each side of the triangle is 5 meters long, the total distance covered would be 5m + 5m + 5m = 15 meters. However, since the person started at A and ended at A, their initial and final positions are the same, making the displacement zero.

Physics · Class 9