UNIVERSAL LAWS OF

PHYSICS

Lesson 1.1 : Distance

and Displacement
Physics is the science of matter
and energy and their interaction
with each other. It basically tries
to explain the laws and principles
that govern the materials in the
universe. It is the most
fundamental of all the sciences
since it involves the most
fundamental quantities the
universe has.
Learning objective:
 Identify the differences between
scalar and vector quantity.
 Recognize the meaning of basic
terms in describing the separation
between two points: distance and
displacement.
 Identify the differences between
displacement and distance.
 MOTION

Motion is any movement or change in position over an

interval of time.
 MOTION

• Motion of an object can be divided into two categories. The quantity is either a vector
or scalar.
• SCALAR quantity- are quantities that are fully described by a magnitude alone.
• VECTOR quantity- are quantities that are fully described by both a magnitude and a
direction.
 L4:How do object move?
Distance and Displacement
Distance refers to the total path
length traveled between two points. It
is scalar quantity that has magnitude
but with no direction.
Displacement refers to the change in
position of a body relative to some
reference point. It is a vector quantity
that has both magnitude and direction.
 Figure 4.1
The total distance and displacement of a girl from a lamp
past.

In Figure 4.1A, a girl walks 3.5 m away

from a lamp post.
The total distance traveled by the girl is
3.5m and the total displacement is 3.5m
to the east.
In Figure 4.1B, the girl returns
and moves 2.0m to the west.
The total distance traveled is
now 5.5m which is the sum of
3.5m and 2.0m. The total
displacement is 1.5m east
which is the vector sum of 3.5
m east and 2.0 west. This is
the shortest straight-line
distance between two points.
Check your understanding
• Consider the following quantities below.
Categorize each quantity as being a VECTOR
or a SCALAR.
Quantity Category
a. 5m
b. 30m/sec, East
c. 5 mi., North
d. 20 Km
e. 256 mi
 To test your understanding of this
distinction, consider the motion
depicted in the diagram below.
Situation:

A Physics teacher walks 4 meters East, 2 meters South, 4 meters West, and finally 2 meters
North.Calculate the distance and displacement.
 To test your understanding of this distinction, consider the motion
Situation: depicted in the diagram below.
A Physics teacher walks 4 meters East, 2 meters South, 4 meters West, and finally 2 meters
North.Calculate the distance and displacement.

A. distance: A. displacement:
Given: Given:
d1=4m d1=4m,E
d2= 2m d2= 2m,S
d3= 4m d3= 4m,W
d4= 2m d4= 2m,N
Formula: Formula:
dT= d1+d2+d3+d4 dT= d1+d2+d3+d4
Solution: Solution:
dT: 4m+2m+4m+2m dT: 4m,E+(-2m,S)+(-4m,W)
Final Answer: 12m +2m,N
Final Answer: 0m
 Evaluation

• The diagram above shows the position of a cross-country skier at various times. At each of the
indicated times, the skier turns around and reverses the direction of travel. In other words, the
skier moves from A to B to C to D.
• Determine the resulting displacement and distance.
 Evaluation

• Consider a football coach pacing back and forth along

the sidelines. The diagram above shows several of
coach’s positions at various times. At each marked
position, the coach makes a “U-turn” and moves in the
opposite direction. In other words, the coach moves
from position A to B to C to D. Determine displacement
and distance.