Quarter: _______________________ Grade & Section: _________ Date ________________________
Group Members: __________________________________________________________________________
Distance and Displacement Lab
Problem: How will the distance traveled from a reference point affect its displacement distance?
Background: Motion is a change in position. So an item moves if it changes position. To be able to say that
something changed position, the initial position must be marked. This initial position is a reference point.
Movement occurs when an item starts at the reference point and changes to a new position. Everyday changes
in position are measured with distance. Distance is only a measurement of length. An item that moves has both
distance and direction. Scientists measure changes in position with displacement (displacement is the overall
distance with direction). Some objects can have a distance of 50 meters but a displacement of 0 meters. This
lab will show you how they differ.
Hypothesis:
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Materials: _______________________________
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Follow the instruction below to fill out the data tables as you walk three different paths and measure the
distance and displacements.
Procedure (Data will be recorded in Procedure):
Path #1
1. Place a piece of tape where you will begin your walk. This tape marks the “starting point”.
2. Walk 10 steps forward and stop (forward is whatever direction you choose!). This is distance #1.
Using the meter stick, have your partner measure distance #1. Write that distance in the table below.
(Don’t forget your units!)
3. Now turn around (180°) and walk 5 steps and stop. This is distance #2. Using the meter stick, have
your partner measure distance #2. Write that distance in the table below.
4. Finally, have your partner measure how far you are from the starting point. This is your measured
displacement. Write that displacement in the table below.
Measured Distances (m) Measured Displacement (m)
Distance #1 Total Displacement for Path #1
Distance #2
Total Distance for Path #1
Path #2
5. Find your piece of tape again, and walk 10 steps forward and measure how far you walked. This is
distance #1. Record below.
6. Turn 90° left, walk 10 steps and measure how far you walked. This is distance #2. Record below.
7. Have your partner measure how far you are form the starting point. This is your measured
displacement. Record below.
Measured Distances (m) Measured Displacement (m)
Distance #1 Total Displacement for Path #1
Distance #2
Total Distance for Path #1
Path #3
8. Find your piece of tape again, and walk 6 steps forward. This is distance #1. Record below.
9. Turn 90° right and walk 8 steps. This is distance #2. Record below.
10. Have your partner measure how far you are from the starting point. This is measured displacement.
Record below.
11. Find your calculated displacement. To find calculated displacement we’re going to do some simple
trigonometry (by using the Pythagorean Therom).
Measured Distances (m) Measured Displacement (m)
Distance #1 Total Displacement for Path #3
Distance #2
Total Distance for Path #1
Analysis and Critical Thinking (answer on the back of this sheet):
12. In each path you took did the order of the walker’s steps or direction affect the distance or
displacement? Explain.
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13. Did you notice a trend in the total distance of each trial compared to the displacement of each trial?
Explain.
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14. Explain the difference between distance and displacement in your OWN words.
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15. What is the difference between scalar and vector?
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16. If you found a treasure map, would you want it to have scalar or vector directions? Circle one and
explain why.
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17. Agatha’s mom says: “We’re about to eat dinner! Don’t go more than a few blocks from home!” Is
Sam’s mom more worried about Sam’s distance or his displacement? Circle one and explain why you
picked it.
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