Question

Distinguish between distance and displacement for (a) an object moving along a straight line, and (b) an object moving in a plane.

Answer 1

1. Distance: The total length of a path travelled by an object is called distance.
2. Displacement: The shortest distance or path between the underlying and final focuses is defined as displacement.

(a)

1. For an object travelling in a straight line, the distance travelled and the displacement are equal in magnitude.
2. Both distance and displacement are equivalent when the item is travelling in a straight line.

(b)

1. An object moving in a plane, where the distance travelled is the length of the journey.
2. The displacement is the straight line distance between the underlying and the particle's final location.
3. Also, when the object is travelling in a plane, the distance may be equal to or more than the displacement.

Hence,

1. Both distance and displacement are equivalent when the item is travelling in a straight line.
2. when the object is travelling in a plane, the distance may be equal to or more significant than the displacement