Distance and displacement are two essential concepts in physics that are often confused due to their similar nature. However, they encapsulate different aspects of motion.

Distance is defined as the total length of the path covered by an object during its motion. It is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude and no direction. Distance accounts for the entirety of the journey, regardless of the direction taken, and is always a positive value. For example, if you walk around a circular track measuring $400 \, \text{m}$, the total distance you have travelled is $400 \, \text{m}$, irrespective of your starting and ending positions.

In contrast, displacement is a vector quantity that measures the shortest straight-line distance from the initial position to the final position of an object. Displacement incorporates both magnitude and direction, and it can be positive, negative, or even zero. For instance, if you walk around the same $400 \, \text{m}$ track and return to your starting point, your displacement is $0 \, \text{m}$, as there is no net change in your position.

To further clarify the distinction, consider the following example: if you walk $10 \, \text{m}$ north and then $10 \, \text{m}$ south, the total distance you have covered is $20 \, \text{m}$, since you have travelled $10 \, \text{m}$ in each direction. However, your displacement in this case is $0 \, \text{m}$, as you have returned to your original position.

In summary, both distance and displacement provide valuable information about an object’s motion, but they convey different meanings. Distance quantifies the total path covered by the object without regard to direction, while displacement measures the net change in position, considering the direction of motion. Understanding the difference between these two concepts is fundamental in physics, as it enables accurate descriptions and analyses of motion.