Motion refers to the change in position of an object over time. It is a fundamental concept in physics and understanding its principles is crucial in many areas of science and engineering. In order to discuss motion accurately, we need to define some key terms.
Distance: Distance is the total path length traveled by an object and is always positive. For example, if a car travels 100 meters forward and then returns back to its starting point, the total distance covered is 200 meters.
Displacement: Displacement, on the other hand, refers to the change in position of an object from its starting point to its final position. It not only considers the distance but also the direction of the movement. Displacement can be positive, negative, or zero.
Speed: Speed is a measure of how quickly an object covers a certain distance. It is calculated by dividing the distance traveled by the time taken. For example, if a car travels 100 kilometers in 2 hours, the speed is 50 kilometers per hour.