Linear Displacement

Displacement is a measure of both the distance and direction that an object travels. An object's displacement equals the difference between a starting and stopping position, and is independent of the path that the objects travels. For example, a skater who skates around the ice rink stopping at the exact location where he or she started has zero displacement. To calculate an object's displacement you subtract the objects initial position from the object's final position. Displacement is measured in meters (SI units) or feet (English units).

Do not forget that displacement depends both on distance and direction. Three different skating scenarios are provided below to illustrated the concept of displacement.