Position and Displacement
Part of the Mechanics section of Coddy's Physics journey. Lesson 23 of 94.
Pick an origin and a positive direction. The position x is where the object is, measured from the origin; its sign gives the side.
The displacement is final minus initial position:
Δx = x_final - x_initial
From x = 5 m to x = -2 m: the displacement is -7 m.
Distance is the length of the path, never negative. Out 40 m and back 40 m is a distance of 80 m but a displacement of 0.
Challenge
A dog walks along a straight path, with positions measured along it, and stops at x = 7 m. Its displacement was -18 m. Find where it started: its starting position x_0.
Try it yourself
Test yourselfThis lesson includes a short quiz. Start the lesson to answer it and track your progress.
All lessons in Mechanics
1Vectors and Newton's Laws
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Forces on an InclineGravity ComponentsFrictionless InclineIncline with FrictionWill It Slide?Recap - Ramp Challenge6Projectile Motion
Independent AxesHorizontal LaunchLaunch at an AngleRange and Max HeightRecap - Hit the Target9Work and Energy
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MomentumImpulseConservation of MomentumElastic CollisionsInelastic CollisionsRecap - Air Track15Simple Harmonic Motion
What is SHM?Mass on a SpringThe PendulumSHM GraphsEnergy in SHMRecap - Oscillator