Physics GCSE
displacement
What displacement means in Physics GCSE, as defined for AQA, OCR.
Definitions of displacement
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Reference: AQA
The vector partner of distance, carrying magnitude and direction, and zero for any journey returning to its start.
The distance of a point on a wave from its undisturbed position, read off the displacement axis of a graph.
A vector measured in a stated direction, which is not the same as distance.
The straight-line change in position from start to finish, with direction.
Topics that use displacement
- Acceleration (AQA GCSE)
- Properties of waves (AQA GCSE)
- Velocity (AQA GCSE)
- Motion (OCR GCSE)
Related terms
- Velocity
- Acceleration
- Change in velocity
- distance travelled
- gradient
- Uniform acceleration
- unit conversion
- velocity-time graph
Using displacement in the exam
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