Distance and Displacement
Name
Write definitions for distance and displacement in the blanks below.
1.
Distance -
2.
Displacement *You may leave direction out of your answers for displacement for the rest of the worksheet.
3.
The typical baseball diamond is a square 90 ft long on each side.
Suppose a player hits a homerun and makes one complete trip from
home plate, around the bases, and back to home plate.
Complete the table by finding the player's distance and
displacement as he rounds the bases. Include the proper units. All
angles are right angles. (Hint: You may need Pythagorean’s theorem
for 2nd base.)
at home plate
at 1st base
at 2nd base
at 3rd base
back at home
distance
displacement
4.
A runner at a track meet completes exactly one lap around a 400 m track.
distance =
displacement =
5.
The runner completes exactly 2 laps around a 400 m track.
distance =
displacement =
6.
For any object in motion, distance is always
A. less than
C. equal to
E. greater than
(over)
displacement.
B. less than or equal to
D. greater than or equal to
7.
A bug walks exactly halfway around the edge of a circular cupcake with a diameter of 5 cm.
distance =
displacement =
8.
A swimmer swims a half lap, moving from the left end to the right end of a pool that is 50 meters long.
distance =
displacement =
9.
A swimmer swims an entire lap, moving from the left end to the right end and back again to the left end in a pool
that is 50 meters long.
distance =
displacement =
10.
For a typical day in your life, from the time you get out of bed in the morning to the time you climb back into your
bed at night, estimate the following:
distance =
displacement =
11.
Think of the total distance you have covered in your lifetime. Is it
possible for you to move in some direction to reduce this distance to zero?
12.
If so, where would you go? If not, why not?
13.
Is it possible for you to make your lifetime displacement equal to zero?
14.
If so, where would you go? If not, why not?
Distance and Displacement
Name
Write definitions for distance and displacement in the blanks below.
1.
Distance -
(Answers will vary.) The total length of the path taken
2.
Displacement -
(Answers will vary.) The difference between the final and initial positions, including direction
*You may leave direction out of your answers for displacement for the rest of the worksheet.
3.
The typical baseball diamond is a square 90 ft long on each side.
Suppose a player hits a homerun and makes one complete trip from
home plate, around the bases, and back to home plate.
Complete the table by finding the player's distance and
displacement as he rounds the bases. Include the proper units. All
angles are right angles. (Hint: You may need Pythagorean’s theorem
for 2nd base.)
distance
at home plate
0 ft
at 1st base
90 ft
at 2nd base
180 ft
at 3rd base
270 ft
back at home
360 ft
displacement
0 ft
90 ft
127.3 ft
90 ft
0 ft
4.
5.
6.
For any object in motion, distance is always
A. less than
C. equal to
E. greater than
(over)
A runner at a track meet completes exactly one lap around a 400 m track.
distance =
400 m
displacement =
0m
The runner completes exactly 2 laps around a 400 m track.
distance =
800 m
displacement =
0m
D
displacement.
B. less than or equal to
D. greater than or equal to
7.
8.
A bug walks exactly halfway around the edge of a circular cupcake with a diameter of 5.00 cm.
distance =
7.85 cm
displacement =
5.00 cm
A swimmer swims a half lap, moving from the left end to the right end of a pool that is 50 meters long.
distance =
50 m
displacement =
9.
50 m
A swimmer swims an entire lap, moving from the left end to the right end and back again to the left end in a pool
that is 50 meters long.
distance =
100 m
displacement =
10.
0m
For a typical day in your life, from the time you get out of bed in the morning to the time you climb back into your
bed at night, estimate the following:
distance =
(Answers will vary.)
displacement =
0m
11.
Think of the total distance you have covered in your lifetime. Is it
possible for you to move in some direction to reduce this distance to zero?
12.
If so, where would you go? If not, why not?
(Answers will vary.) No matter what direction you move, distance is always being added to your lifetime total.
13.
Is it possible for you to make your lifetime displacement equal to zero?
14.
If so, where would you go? If not, why not?
(Answers will vary.) You could return to the place of your birth.
No
Yes