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Displacement

Definition

Displacement refers to the change in position of an object from its initial point to its final point, taking into account both distance and direction.

Analogy

Imagine you are at home and you walk 5 blocks north to your friend's house. The displacement would be 5 blocks north because it represents the change in your position from home to your friend's house.

Related terms

Distance: Distance is the total length traveled by an object, regardless of direction.

Position: Position refers to the location of an object relative to a reference point.

Vector: A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude (size) and direction.



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© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.