Displacement Activity

Distance Tells you how much ground the object has covered How far something has gone Is a scalar quantity For example; 3 meters Displacement Tells you the change in position of an object How far you are from where you started plus the direction you went ( not the total distance you covered) Is a vector quantity For example; 5meters to the west Displacement = position final – position initial

1. Draw this number line.

2. Place the letter a, b and c along your number line at different points. 3. Count the distance from zero to each object letter. 4. Label each point. Pay attention to the sign (+/-).

5. Draw this number line.

6.

Move each letter to a new spot and plot the positions on the number line . 7. Count the distance from zero to each object letter. Label each point. Pay attention to the

sign (+/-).

8. Calculate the displacement (Δx = x 2 each object. Show your work.

– x 1 ) for 9. Follow the example: A: x 1 = + 2cm x 2 = -4 cm Δx = x 2 – x 1 Δx = (-4) – (+2) = -6 cm

10. Draw this number line.

11. Move each letter to a third spot and plot the positions on the number line. 12. Calculate the displacement – between the second and third round positions -- (Δx = x 3 – x 2 ) for each letter.

13. Calculate each object’s TOTAL displacement (between the first and third positions). Show your work.

14. Calculate each object’s TOTAL distance traveled (between the first and third positions). Show your work. 15. Explain why you did these two calculations differently. Why does one include the sign and the other not?

Distance is a scalar measure of the interval between two locations measured along the actual path connecting them. Displacement is a vector measure of the interval between two locations measured along the shortest path connecting them.

16. Your brother borrowed the scissors from your room and now you want to use them. Do you care about the distance the scissors

have traveled or their displacement? Explain your answer.

17. You’re trying to predict how long it’s going to take to get to Atlanta for the long weekend. Do you care about the distance

you’ll travel or your displacement? Explain your answer.