Distance VS Displacement

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.