Distance is a scalar quantity.
A scalar quantity has only magnitude, while a vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.
Distance refers to the total path length traveled by an object, regardless of its direction.
For example, if you walk 5 meters east and then 5 meters west, the total distance traveled is 10 meters, even though your displacement (which is a vector) is 0 meters.
Examples:
- You drive 10 kilometers to the grocery store. The distance you traveled is 10 kilometers.
- You walk around a circular track, completing one lap. The distance you traveled is the circumference of the track, even though your displacement is zero.
- You take a flight from New York to Los Angeles. The distance you traveled is the length of the flight path.
Key Differences:
- Distance: The total length of the path traveled.
- Displacement: The straight-line distance between the starting and ending points, taking direction into account.
