Displacement Vector

Suppose an object (red dot) moves along the three paths as shown in the figure below. These three paths have the same displacement vector as they start at end at the same points A and B. The displacement vector in these cases is equal to a line parallel to the straight line path (green line) in the direction pointing from A to B.  Click here here to see the displacement vector in the figure.

Note that the distance traveled by the object in moving from A to B is different for the three paths. It is the biggest for the blue path.

Script by Dr. Mohamed S. Kariapper using Physlets from