Why distance is a scalar quantity but displacement is a vector quantity?
Why distance is a scalar quantity but displacement is a vector quantity?
Displacement is related to force applied which has a magnitude and a direction . Displacement takes place only in the direction of the force applied. Therefore displacement also has a magnitude and direction. Hence a vector quantity.
On the other hand distance has no direction. It has nothing to do with force. It is merely related location of the two points. Hence scalar quantity.
Note:- Distance is not defined as the actual path but the length of the whole path. Distance is not as such the property of start and end point but of the path. The fact that there can be infinite distinct paths between two points means that distance cannot be defined just by them.
Displacement, however, is the shortest distance between two points. In euclidian geometry, the path that can be taken with the shortest distance is unique.
Displacement is related to force applied which has a magnitude and a direction . Displacement takes place only in the direction of the force applied. Therefore displacement also has a magnitude and direction. Hence a vector quantity.
On the other hand distance has no direction. It has nothing to do with force. It is merely related location of the two points. Hence scalar quantity.
Note:- Distance is not defined as the actual path but the length of the whole path. Distance is not as such the property of start and end point but of the path. The fact that there can be infinite distinct paths between two points means that distance cannot be defined just by them.
Displacement, however, is the shortest distance between two points. In euclidian geometry, the path that can be taken with the shortest distance is unique.
