Comparison between distance and displacement.

1.	Comparison between distance and displacement.
Answer» (i) Distance > Displacement. (ii) For a moving particle distance can never be negative or zero while displacement can be i.e., Distance > 0 but Displacement > = or < 0. (iii) For motion between two points displacement is single valued while distance depends on actual path and so can have many values. (iv) For a moving particle distance can never decrease with time while displacement can. Decrease in displacement with time means body is moving towards the initial position. (v) In general magnitude of displacement is not equal to distance. However, it can be so if the motion is along a straight line without change in direction.

Answer»

(i) Distance > Displacement.

(ii) For a moving particle distance can never be negative or zero while displacement can be i.e., Distance > 0 but Displacement > = or < 0.

(iii) For motion between two points displacement is single valued while distance depends on actual path and so can have many values.

(iv) For a moving particle distance can never decrease with time while displacement can. Decrease in displacement with time means body is moving towards the initial position.

(v) In general magnitude of displacement is not equal to distance. However, it can be so if the motion is along a straight line without change in direction.

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