John walks along a green path of 2500m from the Start to the End in 50 minutes.
What is distance?
The total length covered by a moving object regardless of the direction of motion.
- A scalar quantity (i.e. has magnitude only)
- SI unit: metre (m)
- The distance travelled by john is the total length of the path which is 2500m.
What is displacement?
The distance measured in a straight line in a specified direction.
- A vector quantity (i.e. has both magnitude and direction)
- SI unit: metre (m)
- The displacement travelled by John is the shortest distance from the start to the end which is 500m.