2.2 Distance & Displacement

Front

What is displacement?

Back

Displacement is the shortest distance from the initial to the final position of an object, along with the direction.

Front

How is displacement different from distance?

Back

Distance is the total path length traveled, while displacement is the straight line distance between the starting and ending points.

Front

What is a vector?

Back

A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction, such as displacement.

Front

If a person walks 50 meters north and then 32 meters south, what is their displacement?

Back

18 meters north.

Front

What is the formula to calculate the resultant displacement when moving in two perpendicular directions?

Back

Use the Pythagorean theorem: Resultant Displacement = √(x² + y²), where x and y are the distances in each direction.

Front

What is the total distance traveled if a person walks 3 km north and then 4 km east?

Back

7 km.

Front

If Sara walks from point A to B (3m), B to C (5m), and C to D (3m), what is the total distance?

Back

11 meters.

Front

What does it mean when we say displacement has a direction?

Back

It means that displacement is not just about how far an object has moved, but also in which direction it has moved.

Front

What is the total distance if Jerry walks 2 km to school and then 6 km to the park?

Back

8 km.

Front

Can displacement be zero? Give an example.

Back

Yes, if an object returns to its starting point, its displacement is zero, even if it has traveled a distance.