Question

Which of the following statements is/are correct?

• A. Distance is always greater than the magnitude of displacement
• B. Distance is always smaller than the magnitude of displacement
• C. Distance is greater than or equal to the magnitude of displacement
• D. Distance can never be greater than displacement because it has both direction and magnitude.

Answer 1

The correct option is C

Distance is greater than or equal to the magnitude of displacement

Distance is equal to the length of the whole path taken by the body.
Whereas displacement is the shortest path between the initial and the final positions of the body.
Hence, displacement is either less than or equal to, but never greater than, the distance covered by the body.

Distance is a scalar quantity, which means that it only has magnitude. On the other hand, displacement is a vector quantity, which means that it has both magnitude and direction.