Distance and Displacement In One Dimension

The shortest distance between any two points is a straight line Point A It is not always possible to make a straight line path Point B

Distance The length measured between two points along the exact path taken to get there Ex: What is the distance between point A and Point B B A

Displacement B A How far two points are from each other The length from A to B along the shortest possible path Distance B Displacement A

Magnitude and Direction Magnitude is the amount of length, speed, etc. Vector—a line representing the amount and direction of a measurement Magnitude Direction

Combining Displacements Add the magnitudes of two displacement vectors that have the same direction. Two displacement vectors with opposite directions are subtracted from each other.

Overall displacement can equal zero Displacement is a change in position. If you start at a position and end at the exact same position, how much has your position changed?

You Try What is the displacement of an object that moves 25 km east and then 5 km west? Magnitude = 25 – 5 = 20 Direction = east because the resultant arrow would point eastward 5 25