Urooj Niazi 
Knowledge of the difference between distance and displacement is a basic physics concept, especially in motion and kinematics. The two terms are usually used interchangeably in the day-to-day life though they mean very different on the scientific side. Distance is the distance covered by an object whereas displacement is the distance covered as well as the direction and the distance covered by the object relative to the starting point. This paper presents a clear difference between distance and displacement in a form of definition, key characteristics, examples, and comparison of these two concepts to enable students and beginners to understand them with ease.
What Is Distance?
Distance is the total distance of the path taken by an object, no matter what direction it takes. It is a scalar quantity and this means that it is a magnitude only quantity without direction. Distance is never negative, and it varies depending on the actual path that one moves through in the process of motion.
To illustrate, when one walks 5 meters in an eastward direction then 5 meters in a westward direction the distance covered will be 10 meters in a total distance. Distance is used to measure the amount of movement that has taken place but it does not reveal the final position.
What Is Displacement?
Direction and distance Displacement is the straight-line distance between the starting point and the final point of an object, which is short. It is a vector quantity, and this implies that it has magnitude and direction. Displacement comes in form of positive, negative and even zero.
With the same example we have that in case an individual walks 5 meters east then 5 meters west, the displacement will be zero since the last point is the same as the initial point. This is a clear indication of the distinction between distance and displacement.
Key Difference Between Distance and Displacement
Direction and path dependency is the primary distinction between distance and displacement. Distance is a function of the real route used, whereas displacement is a function of the starting and the terminal points. Displacement can never be less than distance.
There is another notable distinction between distance and displacement that distance cannot be zero when the movement is taking place, but displacement may be zero when movement has taken place.
Distance vs Displacement: Comparison Table (Explained in Words)
The distance is the total distance covered and the direction is not taken into consideration. Displacement measures the shortest distance and has direction. Distance is scalar but displacement is a vector. The difference between distance and displacement in physics is also brought out by this comparison.
Real-Life Examples
Assuming that a car moves round a circular track and back to the starting point, the distance covered remains the complete length of the track, but there is no displacement. This experience in life describes the distinction between distance and displacement perfectly.
Why Understanding This Concept Is Important
Being able to distinguish between a distance and displacement is the key to solving physics problems, understanding speed and velocity, and analyzing the motion correctly when it comes to real world applications. Visit this site for more details.
