Question

Distinguish between distance travelled and displacement.

Answer 1

Hint: The distance can never be zero but displacement can be zero. Distance doesn’t decrease with time but displacement decreases with time. Distance is always equal to or greater than displacement. Distance is a scalar quantity while displacement is a vector quantity.

Complete step by step answer:
Distance is the measurement of the paths taken by a body to travel from one point to another. It may or may not be the direct path from the initial point to final point. It is a scalar quantity that has magnitude only.
So distance can also be explained as the sum of the measurement of all paths travelled to reach from one point to another.
$s=\dfrac{d}{t}$Where, s is speed, d is distance and t is time.
Therefore, $d=s\times t$.
Displacement is the measurement of the length of the shortest path from the initial point to the final point. It is a vector quantity with magnitude and direction.
$v=\dfrac{D}{t}$ Where, v is velocity, D is distance and t is time.
Therefore, $D=v\times t$
These are the major differences between distance and displacement.

Note: Distance and displacement determine a wider range of terms than themselves. The average speed is a function of distance while average velocity is the function of displacement. The average speed of an object is the total distance travelled by the object divided by the total time elapsed to cover the said distance. The average velocity of an object is defined as the displacement with regards to the original position divided by time. SI unit of both, average speed and average velocity is metres per second.