Position, Distance and Displacement

 

Position

The position of a point is its location in space from a reference point (called origin) usually on a cartesian plane. It is determined by its distance and direction from

other points.  

The diagram above shows a cartesian plane with the X-axis on a line going across from left to right and the Y-axis going up the vertical line of the plane. The position of a point is determined by its location on the x and y - axis called the coordinates (x, y). It implies that the distance of the point from the origin in the x-direction and in the y-direction is (x, y).

Note: The x - axis is called the abscissa while the y - axis is called the ordinate. 

Distance and Displacement

• Distance indicates how far a body has moved from a reference point while Displacement is the distance the body has travelled in a specified direction. 
• For example, if a body travels 70km (distance), it is necessary to indicate the direction in which it travels. Therefore, we can say it travels 70km in the south-west direction (displacement). This direction can be indicated by the use of compass bearing e.g. 70km in the direction S60W.
• Distance is scalar quantity which states the magnitude only while displacement is a vector quantity which indicates both the magnitude and direction.