1.1.1 Notes Chapter 11.

1 Distance and Displacement

Frame of reference system of objects that are

not moving with respect to one another
All motion is determined by comparison to
a background described as stationary to
the observer (p. 328)
All motion is relative to your frame of
reference
In a car, you might not think that you are
moving fast if you are looking at the
passenger
However, you will know how fast you are
moving by looking out the window at a sign

Position - location

Motion - change in position; movement

Uniform motion- motion at a constant speed in a

straight line (constant velocity)

Distance length of a path between 2 points

(p.329) measure of how much an object moved,
every step. Usually measured in km, m, cm,
mm

Displacement direction from the starting point

AND the length of a straight line from the starting
point to the ending point (i.e. as a crow flies) (p.
330) Units must include length and direction.
Samples:
1. Eva walks 25m south, then 100m west, then
150m north, then 25m west, then 25m north, and
then 125m east. Draw out her long walk and
figure out her distance and displacement.

2. Vance drives around an oval track. Each lap is

2 miles long, after crossing the finish line in a 500-
mile race, what is Vances displacement and
distance for the race?

3. Zach runs 4 times around a 400m oval track

and stops at the same point he started. What is
his distance? What is his displacement?

4. Druquelis travels 50 miles north, then turns

west and drives 50 miles, then turns south and
drives another 50 miles. What is his distance?
What is his displacement?
5. A sailboat leaves the dock and travels due west
for 75km. The crew then brings the boat about
and sails due east for 25km. What is the boats
final displacement from the dock?

Distance/ Displacement Practice Name

________________

Calculate the distance and displacement of the

following situations:

1. Alexis walks 3 km north, then turns and walks 4 km

south.
2. Amy runs 2 blocks south, then turns around and
runs 3 blocks north.
3. Miguel runs exactly 2 laps around a 400 meter
track.
4. Kiante crawls 4 feet then turns 180 degrees and
crawls 6 feet.
5. Edwin runs 30 feet north, 30 feet west, and then 30
feet south.
6. Jazmine turns around 5 times.
7. Caleb walks 1 mile then turns 180 degrees and
walks 2 miles.
8. Rubi walks two miles from her door to the park,
then returns home to her door.
9. Shannon ran 3 blocks north, and then 2 blocks
south.
10. Tara swam 3 complete laps in a 50 meter pool. (
1 lap is to the other side and back)