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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 magnitude and direction.

Analogy

Imagine you are at home and you need to go to your friend's house. The displacement would be the straight-line distance from your home to your friend's house, regardless of how many turns or detours you took along the way.

Related terms

Distance: Distance is the total length traveled by an object, without considering direction.

Velocity: Velocity is the rate at which an object changes its displacement with respect to time.

Acceleration: Acceleration is the rate at which an object changes its velocity with respect to time.



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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.