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Definition of Displacement

Displacement is a vector quantity that measures the change in position of an object from its initial position to its final position. It is denoted by the symbol “?x” and is measured in meters (m) or any other unit of length. The displacement of an object is the distance between its starting point and ending point, regardless of the path taken by the object.

Displacement is a vector quantity, which means it has both magnitude and direction. The magnitude of the displacement is the distance between the initial and final positions of the object, while the direction of the displacement is the direction of the line connecting the initial and final positions.

Examples of Displacement

• A person walks 10 meters east and then turns around and walks 6 meters west. What is the displacement of the person?

The displacement of the person is 4 meters east. This is because the person started at the initial position, which is 0 meters, and ended up at the final position, which is 4 meters east.

• A car travels 20 kilometers north and then turns and travels 15 kilometers south. What is the displacement of the car?

The displacement of the car is 5 kilometers north. This is because the car started at the initial position, which is 0 kilometers, and ended up at the final position, which is 5 kilometers north.

• A bird flies 50 meters up and then dives down to the ground, 40 meters below its starting point. What is the displacement of the bird?

The displacement of the bird is 10 meters up. This is because the bird started at the initial position, which is 0 meters, and ended up at the final position, which is 10 meters up.

• A ball is thrown straight up into the air and lands back on the ground. What is the displacement of the ball?

The displacement of the ball is 0 meters. This is because the ball started and ended up at the same position.

• An airplane takes off from an airport and travels 500 kilometers east before turning around and flying back 400 kilometers west. What is the displacement of the airplane?

The displacement of the airplane is 100 kilometers east. This is because the airplane started at the initial position, which is 0 kilometers, and ended up at the final position, which is 100 kilometers east.

Quiz on Displacement

1. What is displacement?
2. What is the difference between displacement and distance?
3. Is displacement a scalar or vector quantity?
4. How is displacement represented?
5. What is the unit of measurement for displacement?
6. A car travels 10 kilometers north and then turns around and travels 5 kilometers south. What is the displacement of the car?
7. A person walks 20 meters east and then turns around and walks 15 meters west. What is the displacement of the person?
8. A bird flies 100 meters up and then dives down to the ground, 60 meters below its starting point. What is the displacement of the bird?
9. An object travels 5 meters east, then 8 meters south, and finally 10 meters west. What is the displacement of the object?
10. A plane travels 500 kilometers north and then turns around and travels 300 kilometers south. What is the displacement of the plane?

Answers:

1. Displacement is the shortest distance between the initial position and final position of an object, regardless of the path taken.
2. Distance is the total length of the path taken by an object, while displacement is the change in position of the object from its initial position to its final position.
3. Displacement is a vector quantity.
4. Displacement is represented by the symbol “?x”.
5. The unit of measurement for displacement is meters (m) or any other unit of length.
6. The displacement of the car is 5 kilometers north.
7. The displacement of the person is 5 meters east.
8. The displacement of the bird is 40 meters up.
9. The displacement of the object is 3 meters west.
10. The displacement of the plane is 200 kilometers north.

Conclusion

Displacement is an essential concept in physics that measures the change in position of an object over time. It is a vector quantity that has both magnitude and direction and is used in many areas of physics and engineering. Displacement is the shortest distance between the initial and final positions of an object, regardless of the path taken by the object. We have discussed the definition of displacement, provided examples of displacement, and given a quiz to test your understanding of the concept. It is crucial to have a clear understanding of displacement as it forms the basis of many other concepts in physics, such as velocity and acceleration. Whether you are a student of physics or simply interested in understanding the world around you, a thorough understanding of displacement is essential.