Visualizing both concepts simultaneously to understand their relationship
Car Odometer: Shows total distance traveled regardless of direction.
Running Track: Each lap adds to distance even if you return to start.
Hiking Trail: Winding trail length is the distance.
GPS Navigation: Shows straight-line distance to destination.
Airplane Route: Direct "as the crow flies" distance matters most.
Position Change: Net movement from starting point.
Distance and displacement are equal only when the path is a straight line.
In circular motion, displacement can be zero while distance keeps increasing.
Displacement has direction (vector), distance doesn't (scalar).