What's the difference between distance and displacement

Distance is a scalar, meaning it only has a magnitude. Displacement is a vector, meaning that it has both magnitude and direction. For instance, distance can state that I am "x" metres away from a point, displacement would state that I am "x" metres away in a "y" direction. If you travel away from a point then return, you have travelled a non zero distance, but your displacement is zero as you have returned to your original position. 

EG

Related Physics GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Write down the equation which links speed, distance and time


Why do we say that objects moving in a circle have acceleration even if their speed remains constant?


I don't understand acceleration and how something can accelerate without speeding up.


A student of mass m=50kg runs an experiment. He throws a ball of mass m = 400g from a height h = 20m. What will be the speed of the ball he records just before it touches the ground?