Distance vs displacement

Physics

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Two friends walk 3 km east and then 4 km north. What’s the difference between distance and displacement here?

Curious Corner

Sep 01, 2025

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Answers 1

Curious Corner

Answered 4 months ago

Distance = total path covered = 3 + 4 = 7 km. Displacement = shortest straight line = √(3² + 4²) = 5 km (Pythagoras!). So, distance tells you “how much ground you covered,” displacement tells you “how far you are from the starting point.”