Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

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What does the term "displacement" refer to in physics?

The total path length traveled by an object
The change in position of an object from its starting point
The physical distance between two points without direction
The average velocity of an object over time

The correct answer is: The change in position of an object from its starting point

The term "displacement" in physics specifically refers to the change in position of an object from its starting point to its final position. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction. This distinguishes it from other measurements such as distance, which only accounts for the total path length traveled without considering the starting point or the direction of movement. Displacement is defined mathematically as the difference between the final position and the initial position of the object. Therefore, if an object moves from one location to another, the displacement will reflect the shortest straight-line distance from the start to the end point, along with the direction of that line, making it a crucial concept in understanding motion in physics.