Question detail
What is the difference between distance and displacement?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Forces and motion
Question
- A. Distance is a scalar quantity; displacement is a vector quantity.
- B. Distance is always greater than displacement.
- C. Displacement is the total path length; distance is the shortest path.
- D. Distance includes direction; displacement does not.
Answer
Distance is a scalar quantity; displacement is a vector quantity.
Explanation
Distance is a scalar quantity that measures how far an object has moved, while displacement is a vector quantity that measures the shortest path from the starting point to the endpoint, including direction.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Speed Calculation
Students often confuse the formula for speed, mistakenly using distance divided by time instead of the correct equation.
Remind students that speed is calculated using the equation speed = distance / time, and encourage them to practice using this formula with different examples.
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