Position, Distance And Displacement

CONTENTS

• Position
• Distance
• Displacement

POSITION

The position of an object in space or on a plane is the point at which the object can be located with reference to a given point (the origin).

DISTANCE

This is a measure of the separation between two points. It has magnitude but no direction. Hence, it is a scalar quantity

DETERMINATION OF DISTANCE BETWEEN TWO POINTS

If two points A and B located in a plane are defined by two ordered pair of values(X₁ Y₁) and (X₂ Y₂) or assumed to be in space where they are defined by (X₁, Y₁, Z₁) and (X₂, Y_2, Z₂) the distance between them can be determined by applying this relation.

OR

DISPLACEMENT

Displacement is the distance covered in a specified direction. It is a vector quantity, which has the same unit as distance.

CLASSWORK

1. What is displacement and why is it regarded as vector quantity?
2. Highlight three differences between distance and displacement

ASSIGNMENT

SECTION A

1. Which of the following is odd? (a) 25km (b) 25km North (c) 25km to the left (d) 25km upwards
2. The following are vector quantities EXCEPT (a) distance (b) displacement (c) force (d) weight
3. Determine the distance between S (3,4,-5) and T (2,1,0) (a) 5.8 (b) 5.9 (c) 6.0 (d) 6.2
4. Distance is can be measure with the following except (a) metre rule (b) speedometer (c) tape rule (d) ruler
5. Which is the correct SI unit of distance? (a) millimeters (b) metres (c) kilometres (d) centimetres

SECTION B

1.     Sketch clearly using scale indicators, the position of a point P (4,-5,6) with reference to a point Q (0,0,0). Determine the distance   between P and Q

• What is position?