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11 grade physics others

Define the term Displacement. Is it a vector or a scalar quantity?

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10 Months agoGrade
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ApprovedApproved Tutor Answer10 Months ago

Displacement refers to the change in position of an object. It measures how far an object has moved from its initial position to its final position, taking into account the direction of that movement.

Characteristics of Displacement

  • Vector Quantity: Displacement is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction.
  • Difference from Distance: Unlike distance, which only measures how much ground an object has covered, displacement focuses on the shortest path between the starting and ending points.

Example for Clarity

If you walk 3 meters east and then 4 meters west, your total distance traveled is 7 meters, but your displacement is 1 meter to the west. This illustrates how displacement captures the overall change in position, including direction.