Distance is the total length of path traveled by an object, regardless of the direction of motion. It is a scalar quantity and its SI unit is the metre (m).
Displacement is the distance moved in a specified direction. It is a vector quantity that refers to the change in the position of an object from its starting point.
Drag the end points of the vectors to change the path.
Speed measures how fast an object changes its position over time, typically expressed as the distance traveled per unit of time. It is a scalar quantity, meaning it only has magnitude and no directional component.
The average speed of an object is defined as: $$v = \dfrac{\text{total distance}}{\text{total time taken}}$$ The SI unit for speed is metres per second (m/s).
Velocity is a vector quantity, encompassing both magnitude (speed) and direction. It depicts how fast an object travels in a particular direction.
In symbols: $$v = \dfrac{\Delta s}{\Delta t}$$ where $s$ is displacement.
Acceleration signifies how quickly an object's velocity changes over time, including changes in speed or direction.
In symbols: $$a = \dfrac{\Delta v}{\Delta t} = \dfrac{v - u}{t}$$ where $v$ is final velocity, $u$ is initial velocity, and $t$ is time.
Observe how initial velocity and acceleration affect the motion of the block.