What is the difference between distance and displacement?
GeneralClass 12AllAnswered 27 Mar 2026
Answer
Distance is a scalar quantity that measures the total path length traveled, regardless of direction. Displacement is a vector quantity that measures the straight-line distance from start to finish with direction. For instance, if you run around a 400-meter track and return to the starting point, your distance is 400 meters, but your displacement is 0 meters. Distance is always positive or zero, while displacement can be positive, negative, or zero depending on the chosen direction.
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