Motion in One Dimension – Distance and Displacement

Distance and Displacement

(i) Distance is the length of the actual path travelled by a particle

(ii) Displacement of a particle is defined as the change in position vector of the particle

(iii) Let us suppose that a particle is moving from the point A to point B through C as shown

(a) If we draw an arrow from the initial position A to the final position B, the vector so drawn is called the displacement of the particle in going from A to B.

(b) If  = = position vector of initial position of particle.           

= position vector of final position =

  =  –  =  –

(c) Distance travelled by the particle length of the curve ACB.

(iv)Distance ≥ |Displacement|