1.2 Distance vs. Displacement Physical Science LHS 24-25

1.2 Distance vs. Displacement

​Directions:

You will need a piece of paper and a pencil (take notes on new information)

Write today's topic on the top of your paper

Today's Topic: 1.2 Distance vs. Displacement at the top of your paper

​ Topic 1.2 Learning Goal

- Know the difference between distance and displacement

- Be able to calculate distance from a diagram

- Be able to calculate distance from a word problem

- Be able to calculate displacement from a diagram

- Be able to calculate displacement from a word problem

Distance - total path traveled

Think of it as the total amount of steps you had to travel

​

​Distance

The distance consists of adding up the length of all 6 lines

Notice the distance is longer than the displacement

​ Distance

Change in position

The difference between where you Start and where you End

Includes a direction

​

Displacement

​Distance = Red Arrows from point A to Point C


Distance = 4m + 3m = 7m

Calculating Distance and Displacement With a Diagram

​Displacement = Black Arrow from point A to point C

Displacement = 5m North East

Multiple Choice

Jerry walked from home to school, then from the school to the park. What is his total distance?

• 2 km

• 5 km

• 8 km

• 10 km

Multiple Choice

Jerry walked from home to school, then from the school to the park. What is his total displacement?

• 2 km east

• 5 km

• 8 km

• 2 km

Multiple Choice

Find the distance Sara walks from A to B, B to C then C to D?

• 11m

• 3m

• 5m

Multiple Choice

A car drives 84 meters forward.  It's displacement and distance would be the same.

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

Jerry runs exactly 2 laps around a 400 meter track. What is his displacement?

• 800

• 400

• 0

• 200

Multiple Choice

Sara walks from Point A to Point B. Which is true about Sara's distance and displacement?

• Distance and Displacement are equal

• Distance is less than displacement

• Distance is more than displacement

Multiple Choice

Nathaniel walks 50 meters directly north, stops, reverses direction, and then travels 32 meters directly south. What is is the distance travelled?

• 82 meters

• 18 meters

• 32 meters