Some Properties of Distance Traveled and Distance

• Both the distance between two points (magnitude of the displacement from one point to the other) and the distance traveled along a path are scalar quantities.
• Distance traveled is an additive quantity. To see what that means, go to the applet on Page 2, drag the ball along some curve, note the distance traveled, and then drag the ball again. The new distance traveled must be added to the old one to give the overall distance traveled. Distance traveled is what is shown by a car's odometer.

  In contrast, the magnitude of the displacement is not additive. Drag the ball through two successive displacements. The sum of the magnitudes of the two displacements is in general not equal to the magnitude of the total displacement.

• Drag the ball along a curve and compare the distance traveled and the magnitude of the displacement. The former will be greater than the latter. Why?