Distance vs Displacement: what's the difference?
GCSE Physics
Distance is the total path travelled; displacement is the straight-line distance and direction from start to finish.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
Distance vs Displacement — side by side
| Distance | Displacement | |
|---|---|---|
| Type of quantity | Scalar | Vector |
| Direction? | No | Yes |
| Value after a round trip | Total path length | Zero (ends where it started) |
Exam tip — how to tell them apart: Walk 3 m east then 3 m west: distance = 6 m, displacement = 0. Displacement only cares about start vs end point.
Common trap: Displacement can be smaller than distance (and zero for a round trip); they are only equal for motion in a straight line.
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