Calculate displacement based on initial and final position points.
Total Displacement:
meters
Calculate displacement using initial velocity, time, and acceleration.
Total Displacement:
meters
How to Calculate Displacement: A Complete Guide
In physics, displacement is defined as the overall change in an object's position. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both a magnitude (distance) and a specific direction. Unlike "distance traveled," which accounts for every step taken, displacement only cares about the starting point and the ending point.
The Basic Displacement Formula
If you know the starting and ending positions of an object on a straight line, the calculation is straightforward:
Δx = xf – xi
Where:
Δx: Displacement
xf: Final Position
xi: Initial Position
Calculating Displacement with Velocity and Acceleration
When an object is moving with a constant acceleration, we use the second equation of motion to find the displacement:
s = ut + ½at²
Where:
s: Displacement
u: Initial Velocity (m/s)
t: Time (s)
a: Acceleration (m/s²)
Practical Example
Scenario: A car starts from rest (initial velocity = 0) and accelerates at 2 m/s² for 5 seconds. How far has it been displaced?
Using the formula:
s = (0 * 5) + 0.5 * 2 * (5²)
s = 0 + 1 * 25
Displacement = 25 meters
Displacement vs. Distance: What's the Difference?
Imagine you walk 10 meters East and then 10 meters West.
Distance: You have walked 20 meters total.
Displacement: Your displacement is 0 meters because you ended exactly where you started.
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var xi = parseFloat(document.getElementById('initialPos').value);
var xf = parseFloat(document.getElementById('finalPos').value);
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if (isNaN(xi) || isNaN(xf)) {
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var displacement = xf – xi;
resultSpan.innerText = displacement.toFixed(2);
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function calculateSuvat() {
var u = parseFloat(document.getElementById('velocity').value);
var t = parseFloat(document.getElementById('time').value);
var a = parseFloat(document.getElementById('acceleration').value);
var resultContainer = document.getElementById('suvat-result-container');
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if (isNaN(u) || isNaN(t) || isNaN(a)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers for velocity, time, and acceleration.");
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// Formula: s = ut + 0.5 * a * t^2
var displacement = (u * t) + (0.5 * a * Math.pow(t, 2));
resultSpan.innerText = displacement.toFixed(2);
resultContainer.style.display = 'block';
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