Distance and Displacement Lab

Note! In this lab make your measurements in meters so if you measure 6 meters 7 centimeters you would write 6.07 meters or if you measure 6 meters 70 centimeters you would write 6.7 meters. .

1. Place a piece of tape where you will begin your walk outside. This tape marks the origin. 2. Walk 10 steps forward and stop. Using the meter stick, have your partner measure the distance you walked. Write that distance here: ______(don’t forget units: meters!) 3. Now turn 180 degrees (turn around so you are facing backwards) and walk 5 steps and stop. Using the meter stick, have your partner measure the distance you walked. Write that distance here: ______(don’t forget units!) 4. Now turn 180 degrees (turn forwards again) and walk 20 steps and stop. Using the meter stick, have your partner measure the distance you walked. Write that distance here: ______(don’t forget units!) 5. Finally, have your partner measure how far you are from the origin. Write that measurement below – it is your measured displacement:

Measured Displacement = ______(don’t forget units!)

6. Now add all the distances you walked forwards and subtract all measurements you walked backwards. Write it below – it is your calculated displacement and should match (or be close to) your measured displacement.

Calculated Displacement = ______(don’t forget units!)

Did your measured displacement match your calculated displacement? ______(it should!)

7. Find your piece of tape again, and walk 10 steps forward and measure how far you walked. Write it here: ______(don’t forget your units!) 8. Turn 90° left, walk 15 steps and measure how far you walked. Write it here: ______9. Turn 90° left, walk 10 steps and measure how far you walked. Write it here: ______10. Turn 90° left, walk 15 steps and measure how far you walked. Write it here: ______11. Have your partner measure how far you are form the origin. Write it here: ______This is your measured displacement. 12. Now figure out your distance and write it below. Show your work. Add up the measurements you wrote in numbers 7 through 10. Distance = ______Now figure out your calculated displacement and write it below. Show your work. Add measurement 7 + measurement 8 then subtract measurement 9 and measurement 10.

Calculated Displacement = ______(continues on the back!) Does your calculated displacement match your measured displacement? ______If it doesn’t, explain why not?

13. Now draw a diagram picture for each walk and indicate displacement with a vector arrow. Show all your measured distances and displacements on the diagram.

First walk

Second walk

14. Explain why displacement is a vector quantity.