displacement vs distance

Question

A particle moves from x = 0 m to x = 5 m then back to x = 2 m. Distance travelled and displacement are?

RankGuru · Accepted Answer

1. **Distance**: The total path length covered. 
   - First leg: $0 	o 5$, distance = $5 	ext{ m}$.
   - Second leg: $5 	o 2$, distance = $|2 - 5| = 3 	ext{ m}$.
   - Total distance = $5 + 3 = 8 	ext{ m}$.
2. **Displacement**: The change in position, regardless of the path. 
   - Initial position $x_i = 0$.
   - Final position $x_f = 2$.
   - Displacement = $x_f - x_i = 2 - 0 = 2 	ext{ m}$.
Therefore, the distance is $8 	ext{ m}$ and displacement is $2 	ext{ m}$.

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