Distance, Displacement, speed and velocity

• Distance is just now far an object has moved. Its a scalar quantity, so it doesn't involve direction
• Displacement is a vector quantity. It measures the distance and direction in a straight line from an object's starting point to its finishing point.
• If you walk 5 m north then 5m south, your displacement is 0m but the distance travelled is 10m
• speed and velocity both measure how fast your going, but speed is a scalar and velocity is a vector
• distance traveled (m) = speed (M/S) × time(s)
• Typical everyday Speeds:

  • A person walking - 1.5m/s
  • A car - 25m/S
  • A train - 30 m/s
  • A person cycling -6m/s