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Miike012
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Displacment and path lenght...
Is path length the same as displacement?
Is path length the same as displacement?
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Miike012 said:Is path length the same as displacement?
Displacement is a measure of the shortest distance between the starting and ending points of an object's motion. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude (size or distance) and direction.
Path length is the total distance traveled by an object, regardless of the direction or route taken. It is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude and no direction.
Displacement is a vector quantity that takes into account the direction of an object's motion, while distance is a scalar quantity that only considers the total amount of movement.
Yes, displacement can be negative if the object's ending point is in the opposite direction of its starting point. This indicates that the object has moved in the opposite direction of its initial motion.
Displacement and path length are related, but they are not the same. Displacement is always equal to or less than the path length, as it measures the shortest distance between two points. However, the path length can be longer if the object takes a more circuitous route.