PH01-03 Physics Watch
Distance and displacement
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In this lesson
In this video you'll learn about distance and displacement for GCSE Physics.
By the end: Work out both the distance travelled and the displacement for the same journey, giving the displacement as a size together with a direction.
What it covers
- 1:52 Distance and displacement: an athlete runs three complete laps
- 3:50 Someone answers a displacement question with two hundred and fifty metres, and nothing else
Key words
For: AQA GCSE 8463, Edexcel GCSE 1PH0, OCR GCSE J249
On the specification
| Board | Spec | Statement |
|---|---|---|
| AQA GCSE 8463 | 4.5.6.1.1 | Distance and displacement |
| Edexcel GCSE 1PH0 | 2.1 | Explain that a scalar quantity has magnitude (size) but no specific direction |
| Edexcel GCSE 1PH0 | 2.2 | Explain that a vector quantity has both magnitude (size) and a specific direction |
| Edexcel GCSE 1PH0 | 2.3 | Explain the difference between vector and scalar quantities |
| Edexcel GCSE 1PH0 | 2.4 | Recall vector and scalar quantities, including: a displacement/distance b velocity/speed c acceleration d force e weight/mass f momentum g energy |
| Edexcel GCSE 1PH0 | 2.5 | Recall that velocity is speed in a stated direction |
| Edexcel GCSE 1PH0 | 9.2 | Explain the difference between vector and scalar quantities using examples |
| OCR GCSE J249 | P2.1d | Explain the vector–scalar distinction as it applies to displacement and distance, velocity and speed |
For teachers
This GCSE Physics lesson teaches distance and displacement. By the end, students should be able to work out both the distance travelled and the displacement for the same journey, giving the displacement as a size together with a direction. It works through four worked examples and the mistakes examiners report, and suits Foundation and Higher tier students on both GCSE Physics and Combined Science courses.