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distance is a scalar measurement of the change in location of something from a fixed reference point. It differs from the displacement, which is a vector measurement of the change in location. |
. The
distance is thus related to the
displacement in the same way that
speed is to
velocity. The force exerted by a spring is proportional to the
displacement, because the force lies along the direction opposite to that of the displacement – both direction and magnitude are important – so you cannot completely describe the force by giving the
distance moved, unless you also specify the direction.