Displacement vs. Point of Origin

In summary, displacement in physics is the distance and direction an object has moved from its original position, while point of origin is the starting location or position of an object used as a reference point for measuring displacement. The main difference between the two is that displacement is a physical quantity, while point of origin is a reference point. They are related in that displacement is measured from the point of origin, and without a point of origin, we cannot accurately determine an object's displacement. Real-world examples include a car traveling between two cities, with the displacement being the distance and direction between the cities, and a person walking a circular path where their displacement is zero as they return to their starting point.
  • #1
clw105
1
0
Hey,

this seems easy, but I'm not sure.

Does the displacement depend on the choice of the origin for the coordinate system?
 
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  • #2
Imagine a particle moving horizontally from A to B. If we put our coordinate system's origin on A calculate the displacement, now put it on B and calculate the displacement. Now an arbitrary point. Did you notice the modulus of the displacement vector showing distinct values each time?
 
  • #3


Yes, the displacement does depend on the choice of origin for the coordinate system. Displacement is a vector quantity that measures the change in position of an object relative to its starting point or origin. If the origin is changed, the displacement will also change, as it is measured relative to the new origin. This is why it is important to establish a consistent origin when working with displacement in order to accurately measure and compare changes in position.
 

What is displacement?

Displacement, in physics, refers to the distance and direction an object has moved from its original position. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (distance) and direction.

What is point of origin?

Point of origin, also known as the reference point, is the starting location or position of an object. It is used as a reference for measuring displacement.

What is the difference between displacement and point of origin?

The main difference is that displacement is a measure of how far an object has moved from its starting position, while point of origin is the starting position itself. Displacement is a physical quantity, while point of origin is a reference point used to measure displacement.

How are displacement and point of origin related?

Displacement is the distance and direction an object has moved from its point of origin. Point of origin is used as a reference point to measure displacement. Without a point of origin, we cannot accurately determine an object's displacement.

What are some real-world examples of displacement and point of origin?

A car traveling from one city to another would have a displacement that is the distance and direction between the two cities. The starting point (point of origin) would be the city where the car began its journey. Another example is a person walking a circular path, where their displacement is zero as they return to their point of origin after completing one full circle.

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