Displacement is a vector. It has length and a direction.
Distance is a scalar. It is only length.
Given a moving object and a starting point:
If the moving object moves in one direction and
The starting point is a stationary point;
then distance and displacement are the same thing.
Otherwise, displacement is the distance between a starting point and the ending point.
This difference is especially noticeable if the object does not move in a straight line or the starting point is moving.
Displacement is a word that is also used when talking about buoyancy and flotation.
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Answers & Comments
Displacement is a vector. It has length and a direction.
Distance is a scalar. It is only length.
Given a moving object and a starting point:
If the moving object moves in one direction and
The starting point is a stationary point;
then distance and displacement are the same thing.
Otherwise, displacement is the distance between a starting point and the ending point.
This difference is especially noticeable if the object does not move in a straight line or the starting point is moving.
Displacement is a word that is also used when talking about buoyancy and flotation.