Materials - - - - Graph paper, ruler Class time 10 minutes Procedure Draw a dot at the intersection of two lines near the bottom edge of a sheet of graph paper. Label the dot “Start”. Draw a second, similar dot near the top of the paper. Label this dot “End”. Draw a path from the Start dot to the End dot. - Choose any path that stays on the grid lines. ASSUME: Each square represents 1 km How many km (squares) did you cover? (distance) NOW: Using your ruler, draw a straight line connecting your start to your end point. (displacement) 1. Which is shorter, the distance or the displacement? 2. Can you distance and displacement be equal to each other? How? Displacement is always shorter than or equal to the distance because it is a straight line between two points, not always the actual path of motion.

Now let's consider the motion of a physics teacher Now let's consider the motion of a physics teacher. The physics teacher walks 4 meters East, 2 meters South, 4 meters West, and finally 2 meters North. The entire motion lasted for 24 seconds. Determine the distance traveled and the displacement. 12 meters Distance __________________ Displacement __________________ 0 meters

The physics teacher walked a distance of 12 meters; however, her displacement is 0. Even though the physics teacher walked a  total distance of 12 meters, his displacement was 0 meters. During the course of his motion, he has covered “12 meters of ground,” (distance 12 m). Yet when he is finished walking, he is not “out of place” – there is no displacement from his starting point (frame of reference). Therefore his displacement is 0 meters.

What is the total distance traveled? Where are they? How do they get home? What is the total distance traveled? What is their total displacement? 5 blocks North of their house Walk 5 blocks South 35 blocks 5 blocks North

What is the total distance traveled? What is their total displacement? It was a beautiful day and Chris decided to take her cat for a walk. As long as she was going out, she decided to run a few errands: First, she headed for the drugstore which was 3 blocks north of her house. From there she went 2 blocks east cleaners. She then traveled 4 blocks south to the grocery store where she bought some milk for her cat, and then 5 blocks west to the hardware store for some paint. She then walked 2 blocks south of the hardware store to the stationary store where she bought a magazine. She then went 7 blocks east to the post office. Eight blocks north of the post office the cat got too tired to walk. She told the cat, “Just one more stop.” They walked 4 blocks west to the pet store, where she bought some catnip as a reward for the cat. Where are they? HOW DO THEY GET HOME? What is the total distance traveled? What is their total displacement? You may not be able to complete this until we finish today’s lesson. Do your best.

Vector Direction Worksheet

Vector Direction Worksheet