Displacement

Definition

Displacement is the measure of the change in position of a point from one location to another. It is a vector quantity, meaning it has both magnitude and direction.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Displacement can be represented in polar coordinates as $r$ (radius) and $\theta$ (angle).
2. In the unit circle, displacement along the circumference corresponds to angular displacement.
3. The magnitude of displacement on the unit circle is always 1 because the radius is 1.
4. Displacement can be calculated using trigonometric functions like sine and cosine for angles.
5. When dealing with periodic functions, displacement can be used to determine phase shifts.

Review Questions

• How do you represent displacement in polar coordinates?
• What is the magnitude of displacement on the unit circle?
• How can trigonometric functions help calculate displacement?

Related terms

Vector: A quantity that has both magnitude and direction.

Angular Displacement: The angle through which an object moves on a circular path.

Unit Circle: A circle with a radius of one, centered at the origin of a coordinate plane.