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Answer 1 · 2017-05-03T20:49:51

Distance is a scalar, displacement is a vector.

Distance is a scalar, meaning it does not include a direction.

Eg : Bob walks 1metre to the right, turns around and then walks 1metre to the left. He ends up at his initial position.

Distance#= 1 + 1=2m#

Displacement is a vector, meaning it has a direction.

Eg: Bob walks 1metre to the right, turns around and then walks 1metre to the left. He ends up at his initial position.

Displacement #= 1+(-1) = 0 m#

In the above situation, we take the rightward direction to be positive, and leftward to be negative.

Thus, Bob walks to the right, a displacement of 1metre and to the left, a displacement of -1m.

The total distance travelled is 2metres but the total displacement is 0metres.