Quick Motion Riddle: What Never Changes with Direction? #learnphysics #examprep #tutorial #education

Quick Motion Riddle!

What moves but stays the same?

Short Question:
Which of the following does not change with direction?

1) Displacement
2) Distance
3) Velocity
4) Position
Answer: Distance

Key Physics Terms:
Distance
Displacement
Velocity
Position

Definitions and SI Units:
Distance: The total path length covered by an object, irrespective of the direction. It is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude and no direction.
SI Unit: Meters (m)

Displacement: The shortest distance between an object’s initial and final position, considering direction. It is a vector quantity.
SI Unit: Meters (m)

Velocity: The rate of change of displacement with respect to time, and it includes direction, making it a vector quantity.
SI Unit: Meters per second (m/s)

Position: The location of an object relative to a reference point, and it is often expressed as a vector.
SI Unit: Meters (m)

Practice Question Explained:
In this question, you are asked which quantity does not change with direction.

Distance is a scalar quantity, meaning it only measures how much an object has moved, without taking into account its direction.

Displacement and velocity, being vector quantities, do consider direction, and therefore they change if the direction changes.

Position refers to the location of an object and is also influenced by direction.
Thus, the correct answer is Distance, as it does not change with direction.

Key Principles, Facts, and Formulas:

Scalar vs. Vector Quantities:
Scalar quantities, like distance, are only concerned with magnitude (size) and do not account for direction. In contrast, vector quantities, like displacement and velocity, consider both magnitude and direction.

Formula for Distance:

Distance = Total path covered

Formula for Displacement:

Displacement = Final position −Initial position

Distance will remain constant regardless of changes in direction, but displacement will vary depending on direction.

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