Displacement

Displacement is the vector change in position from an initial point to a final point. It depends only on those endpoints, not on the path taken between them.

Position vector: A vector locating a point relative to a chosen origin. Displacement is found by subtracting the initial position vector from the final one.
Vector subtraction: An operation that adds the negative of one vector to another. Subtracting initial position from final position calculates displacement.
Distance: A scalar measure of how much ground is covered along a route. Distance depends on the route; displacement depends only on endpoints.
Velocity: The rate of change of position with respect to time. Average velocity is net displacement divided by elapsed time.
Trajectory: The curve or sequence of positions traced by a moving object. A trajectory records the route, while displacement summarizes its endpoints.
Coordinate system: A framework of reference axes and units used to assign coordinates to positions. Coordinates express the endpoints whose difference gives displacement.
Vector addition: An operation combining vectors by adding their corresponding components. Successive displacements add to give the net change in position.
Speed: The rate at which distance is traveled over time. Speed uses path length, whereas displacement-based rates use net position change.
Acceleration: The rate of change of velocity with respect to time. Displacement over time helps determine motion governed by acceleration.
Reference frame: A coordinate system and clock used to describe physical events and motion. Displacement is measured between positions specified in a reference frame.

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