Distance/Displacement Scalar/Vector

Distance and direction of an object's change in position from a starting point

• displacement
• distance
• motion
• reference point

Tags

CCSS.HSN.VM.A.1

The total length traveled is known as

• distance.

• displacement.

• reference point.

• wrong answer.

A ______________ quantity is fully described by a number and unit alone.

• scalar

• vector

A __________ quantity will always include a direction, not just a number and unit.

• scalar

• vector

Tags

NGSS.HS-PS3-5

You walk 5 meters. Is this 1) distance or displacement, and 2) a scalar or a vector quantity?

• distance, scalar

• displacement, scalar

• distance, vector

• displacement, vector

You walk 10 meters to the west. Is this 1) distance or displacement, and 2) a scalar or vector quantity?

• distance, scalar

• displacement, scalar

• distance, vector

• displacement, vector

Which of the following is a scalar quantity?

• 2 miles up I-35

• 10 feet closer to your car

• 2 meters

• 1 centimeter to the right

You drive 2 km to school and then 2 km back home. What is your displacement?

• 0 km. You are back where you started.

• 4 km. 2+2 = 4.

• 5 km. 2+2 = 5.

You drive 2 km to school and then 2 km back home. What is your distance travelled?

• 0 km. You are back where you started.

• 4 km. 2+2 = 4.

• 5 km. 2+2 = 5.

Ricky-Bobby races in the Indy 500, an oval shaped track that is 2.5 miles per lap. The race is 200 laps long. The distance he traveled during the race is 500 miles, because:

• Distance is a vector quantity.

• Distance is a scalar quantity.