Question
Define (i) Distance (ii) Displacement. Give two differences between displacement and distance.
✓
Answer
(i) Distance: The length of path travelled by a body in certain interval of time is called distance.
(ii) Displacement: of an object between two points is the shortest distance between these two points.
"It is the unique path which can take the body from its initial to final position."
Differences between displacement and distance.
Distance:
1. It is a scalar quantity.
2. Distance travelled is always positive.
3. The distance travelled by a moving body is the actual length of path.
Displacement:
1. It is a vector quantity.
2. Displacement may be positive negative or zero.
3. The displacement of a body is the shortest distance between the initial and final positions of the body..
4. Displacement is always less than or equal to the distance travelled.
Displacement is zero.
(ii) Displacement: of an object between two points is the shortest distance between these two points.
"It is the unique path which can take the body from its initial to final position."
Differences between displacement and distance.
Distance:
1. It is a scalar quantity.
2. Distance travelled is always positive.
3. The distance travelled by a moving body is the actual length of path.
Displacement:
1. It is a vector quantity.
2. Displacement may be positive negative or zero.
3. The displacement of a body is the shortest distance between the initial and final positions of the body..
4. Displacement is always less than or equal to the distance travelled.
Displacement is zero.
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