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Quizzes > High School Quizzes > Science

Distance and Displacement Practice Quiz

Boost understanding with worksheet challenges and answers

Difficulty: Moderate
Grade: Grade 8
Study OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustrating a physics trivia quiz for middle school students on distance vs displacement.

What is distance in physics?
The total path length traveled regardless of direction.
The speed of an object measured over time.
A vector quantity that includes direction.
The change in position from the starting point to the ending point.
Distance is a scalar quantity that measures the total path length taken during motion, without considering the direction of travel. It simply accumulates all the segments of the journey.
What is displacement in physics?
The rate at which an object moves.
The change in position from the starting point to the ending point, including direction.
The total path length traveled, irrespective of direction.
The distance covered over a period of time.
Displacement is a vector quantity that indicates not only how far an object has moved but also in which direction. It represents the net change in position from the starting point to the ending point.
Which of the following is a scalar quantity?
Velocity
Displacement
Force
Distance
Distance is a scalar quantity because it has only magnitude and no direction. In contrast, displacement, velocity, and force all include directional information, making them vectors.
Which statement is true about displacement?
It is a vector and can be zero even if the distance traveled is not.
It only measures the total path length.
It is independent of the starting and ending points.
It is always equal to the distance traveled.
Displacement only considers the overall change in position, meaning that if an object returns to its starting point, the displacement is zero regardless of the distance traveled. This fundamental property distinguishes it from distance.
What is the SI unit for both distance and displacement?
Kilogram
Ampere
Second
Meter
Both distance and displacement are measurements of length and are expressed in meters in the SI system. Other units like seconds, kilograms, and amperes are used for time, mass, and electric current, respectively.
An object moves 3 m east, then 4 m east, and finally 5 m west. What is its displacement?
12 m
2 m east
5 m east
2 m west
To calculate the displacement, add the movements with their directions: 3 m east plus 4 m east gives 7 m east; subtracting 5 m west results in a net displacement of 2 m east. The calculation shows that displacement is the algebraic sum of the movements.
A runner covers 200 m along a winding path from point A to B, while the straight-line distance between A and B is 150 m. What is the runner's displacement?
150 m in the direction from A to B
350 m following the path taken
200 m in the direction from A to B
50 m difference from the total distance
Displacement measures the shortest, straight-line distance between the start and end points. Despite the 200 m covered along the winding path, the displacement remains 150 m in the direction from point A to point B.
What key factor distinguishes displacement from distance?
Magnitude and direction
Energy
Mass
Time
Displacement is a vector, meaning it has both magnitude and direction, whereas distance is a scalar with only magnitude. This distinction is fundamental to understanding the differences between the two.
If a person walks 6 m north and then 8 m east, what is the magnitude of their displacement?
10 m
4 m
14 m
2 m
By applying the Pythagorean theorem to the 6 m and 8 m movements, the magnitude of displacement is calculated as √(6² + 8²) = √(36+64) = √100 = 10 m. This represents the straight-line distance from the starting point.
Which scenario clearly results in a displacement of zero?
Running 3 m north and 4 m east
Jumping 3 m forward and 2 m backward
Walking 5 m east and then 5 m west, returning to the start
Cycling 10 m along a semicircular path
In the given scenario, the person returns to the starting point by walking equally forward and then backward in opposite directions, resulting in a net displacement of 0. The other options do not bring the person back to the start.
How does the path taken by an object affect its distance and displacement?
It has no effect on either measurement
It affects displacement but not distance
It affects distance but not displacement
It affects both distance and displacement equally
Distance is the total length of the path taken, so any twists and turns increase it. Displacement, however, depends only on the starting and ending points, making it independent of the actual path followed.
Which statement is true regarding an object that returns to its starting point?
Displacement equals the distance traveled
It indicates the object did not move
Both its displacement and distance are zero
Its displacement is zero even though the distance traveled is non-zero
When an object ends where it started, the net change in position is zero; hence, the displacement is zero. However, the actual path taken could have been long, making the distance traveled a non-zero value.
In vector terms, if an object moves from (2, 3) to (7, 8) on a Cartesian plane, what is the displacement vector?
(7, 8)
(5, -5)
(2, 3)
(5, 5)
The displacement vector is determined by subtracting the starting coordinates from the ending coordinates: (7-2, 8-3) equals (5, 5). This vector represents both the magnitude and the direction of the movement.
Which method is used to calculate the magnitude of displacement in two dimensions?
Adding the distances in each direction
Using the Pythagorean theorem
Multiplying the individual distances
Subtracting the smaller distance from the larger
The Pythagorean theorem is employed to calculate the magnitude of displacement when movement occurs along two perpendicular directions. This approach treats the components as sides of a right triangle and provides the straight-line distance.
An object travels 3 m north, 4 m west, and then 3 m south. What is its net displacement?
7 m northwest
0 m
4 m west
10 m west
The northward and southward movements cancel each other out, leaving only the 4 m movement to the west. Hence, the net displacement is 4 m west.
A car follows a spiral route starting at (0,0) and ending at (0,0) after traveling 500 m. What are its distance and displacement?
Distance: 0 m, Displacement: 0 m
Distance: 500 m, Displacement: 0 m
Distance: 500 m, Displacement: 500 m
Distance: 0 m, Displacement: 500 m
Even though the car covers a total distance of 500 m along its spiral path, it ends at the starting point. Therefore, the displacement, which is the straight-line change in position, is 0 m.
A hiker follows a path with four segments: 10 m east, 15 m north, 10 m west, and 15 m south. What are the total distance traveled and the net displacement?
Distance = 50 m, Displacement = 0 m
Distance = 50 m, Displacement = 50 m
Distance = 25 m, Displacement = 25 m
Distance = 25 m, Displacement = 0 m
The total distance is the sum of all four segments: 10 + 15 + 10 + 15 = 50 m. Since the hiker ends up where they started, the net displacement is 0 m.
Two runners start at the same point and take different routes, yet both finish 100 m east of the start. Which scenario is possible?
One runner's displacement is greater due to the longer path
Both runners will have the same distance if their displacements are equal
One runner takes a curved path of 120 m and the other runs straight 100 m, both having the same displacement
Both runners run 120 m but in different directions
Displacement depends solely on the starting and ending points, not the route taken. In this scenario, both runners end 100 m east of the start, so their displacement is the same, even if one runner took a longer path.
A drone flies 100 m north, then 100 m east, and 100 m south, after which it is blown an additional 20 m east. What is its net displacement?
220 m east
20 m east
100 m east
120 m east
The drone's north and south components cancel out, leaving its eastward movement. Initially, it moves 100 m east, and then an extra 20 m east is added by the wind, resulting in a net displacement of 120 m east.
A ball is rolled in a straight line for 4 seconds and then reversed for 3 seconds at constant speed. How do its distance and displacement compare?
The distance is less than the displacement in this scenario
The distance and displacement are equal because the motion is along a straight line
The distance is the sum of both motions while the displacement is the difference between them
The displacement is zero because the ball reversed direction
Since the ball rolls forward for 4 seconds and then backward for 3 seconds, the total distance is the sum of both intervals. However, the displacement is the difference between the forward and backward movements, resulting in a smaller net change in position.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Understand the fundamental differences between distance and displacement.
  2. Apply vector and scalar concepts to analyze motion scenarios.
  3. Calculate displacement and distance in various physics problems.
  4. Interpret graphical representations of movement to differentiate between the two concepts.
  5. Synthesize problem-solving techniques to effectively complete physics assessments on motion.

Distance & Displacement Worksheet w/ Key Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand the Definitions - Distance tells you how much ground you've covered no matter where you end up, while displacement is a vector that points straight from your start to your finish. Keeping them straight is the first step to ace your kinematics. OpenStax: Distance vs Displacement
  2. Recognize Scalar vs. Vector Quantities - Scalars carry only magnitude like your total mileage, whereas vectors carry magnitude and direction, like "5 m east" in displacement. Grasping this difference helps you avoid common pitfalls in physics problems. Physics Classroom: Scalars & Vectors
  3. Calculate Displacement - Use the simple formula Δx = xfinal − xinitial to find how far and in which direction you've moved. Plug in your positions and let algebra do the heavy lifting. OpenStax: Displacement Formula
  4. Consider Direction in Displacement - Moving 5 m east then 5 m west may feel like 10 m of walking, but your displacement is zero because you ended up where you started. Always account for direction signs to get it right. Physics Classroom: Direction Matters
  5. Use Diagrams to Visualize Motion - Sketch arrows and points to map out each step of the journey, making it easier to spot distance vs displacement. A quick doodle can save you from tangled calculations. Physics Classroom: Motion Diagrams
  6. Apply the Pythagorean Theorem for Diagonal Displacement - When you move in two perpendicular directions, a² + b² = c² comes to the rescue to find the straight-line displacement. Think of it as the shortcut across campus instead of walking the sidewalks. OpenStax: Pythagorean Theorem
  7. Practice with Real-Life Scenarios - Challenge yourself with scenarios like road trips or treasure hunts to compute both distance and displacement. Turning textbook problems into adventures makes learning stick. Physics Classroom: Practice Questions
  8. Understand the Impact of Direction Changes - Zigzag your way around and you'll rack up a big distance but maybe a tiny displacement. Frequent turns can trick you, so track each segment carefully. Physics Classroom: Direction Changes
  9. Differentiate Between Distance Traveled and Displacement - Distance is your total odometer reading, while displacement is your GPS straight-line route. Knowing which "trip meter" to read solves many problems. OpenStax College Physics: Distance vs Displacement
  10. Utilize Interactive Tools for Practice - Online simulators and concept builders let you experiment in real time, turning abstract ideas into concrete understanding. Play, pause, rewind, and master those tricky kinematics concepts! Physics Classroom: Interactive Tools
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