1. Warm-Up:
Average speed is the speed a object travels over a total given distance.
Instantaneous speed is the speed of an object at a particular instant in time.
Which speed did you calculate during the speed lab? Support your answer.

2. Distance We often talk about distance, but what exactly is distance?
Measures the change in position.
Distance traveled: how far an object travels along a path.

3. Calculating Distance Distance = Rate * Time D = rt
In physics, this rate is often called speed.

4. Displacement
Straight-line distance in a specific direction from starting position to ending position.
Position of an object in reference to an origin or to a previous position.
Flora London Marathon: Distance: 42.2 Km; Displacement: 10 Km

6. Distance vs Displacement Examples
Classify the following sports as caring about distance or displacement:
400 m race
Football
Running the bases in baseball
200m swim
Basketball
Cross country meet
50 m race
Soccer
Volleyball

7. Summary
Distance – it does not matter what direction you go, only how far you traveled.
Displacement – distance you are from the start to the finish. In other words, direction matters!

8. Exit Ticket
What is the difference between distance and displacement?