Distance and displacement are different. When you traveled 50 km to the East and then 20 km to the West, the total distance you traveled is 70 km, but your displacement is 30 km East.

In physics, we say that distance is a scalar and displacement is a vector. Scalar has a magnitude and vector has both magnitude and a direction. Scalar is one dimensional and vector is two dimensional.

Source: http://www.easyphysics.net/ch2/ch2.htm

I have some questions about those two quotes, please answer.

1) How come the displacement is 30 kilometers? (In first quote)
2) What is scalar?

3) What is vector?

4) What is one dimensional?

5) What is two dimensional?

Catapult

 

Source: http://www.easyphysics.net/ch2/ch2.htm

I have some questions about those two quotes, please answer.

1) How come the displacement is 30 kilometers? (In first quote)

30Km represents the net distance traveled. Consider that the initial travel was 50Km. Then the person backtracked 20Km. Does this clue help?

2) What is scalar?

3) What is vector?

4) What is one dimensional?

5) What is two dimensional?

Catapult