Displacement (vector)

A displacement is a vector that is the shortest distance from the initial to the final position of a point P. It quantifies both the distance and direction of an imaginary motion along a straight line from the initial position to the final position of the point. A displacement may be also described as a 'relative position': the final position of a point (Rf) relative to its initial position (Ri), and a displacement vector can be mathematically defined as the difference between the final and initial position vectors:

Displacement (vector)

A displacement is a vector that is the shortest distance from the initial to the final position of a point P. It quantifies both the distance and direction of an imaginary motion along a straight line from the initial position to the final position of the point. A displacement may be also described as a 'relative position': the final position of a point (Rf) relative to its initial position (Ri), and a displacement vector can be mathematically defined as the difference between the final and initial position vectors: