Science Grade 7- 3rd Quarter (Physics)
Week 1
Distance and Displacement
(WEEK 1)
Lesson 1 (Distance and Displacement)
Introduction
Motion is the area of physics that studies how things move. It was developed about
300 years ago by Isaac Newton. He discovered that all objects move according to three basic
laws. Newton’s Laws can explain almost all of physics. When we look at the other branches of
classical physics, they all can be explained using these laws of motion.
This module will tackle how to define motion through distance, displacement, speed or
velocity, and acceleration
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
Most Essential Learning Competency
1. Describe the motion of an object in terms of distance or displacement, speed or
velocity, and acceleration (S7FE-IIIa-1)
Subtasks
1. define motion;
2. identify the reference point; and
3. describe objects in terms of distance or displacement
Try this!
Performance Task No. 1
You don't always need to see something move to know that motion has taken place. A
reference point is needed to determine the position of an object. Motion and Position Motion
occurs when an object changes its position relative to a reference point. The motion of an object
depends on the reference point that is chosen.
The position of an object can be described in many ways. You can use words or visuals
like diagrams or graphs.
Consider the diagram in Figure 1. The positions of the objects are described in the
diagram by their coordinates along the number line.
Figure 1. Coordinates of different objects along the number
(Science 7 Learner’s Material Unit 3 Module 1 page 170)
Q1. What is the position of the dog?
Q2. What is the position of the tree?
Q3. What is the position of the dog with respect to the house?
Q4. What is the position of the tree with respect to the dog?
Q5. How many meters does the dog need to travel to go to the house?
Think ahead!
In science, motion is defined as the change in position for a particular time interval. You
can describe it through distance and displacement. Distance and displacement are two
quantities that may seem to mean the same thing yet have distinctly different definitions and
meanings.
Distance is a scalar quantity that refers to "how much ground an object has covered"
during its motion. It is the length of the path travelled by a body while moving from an initial position
to a final position. There is always a distance covered whenever there is a motion, and lastly
distance measured is always positive.
Displacement is a vector quantity that refers to "how far out of place an object is"; it is
the object's overall change in position. It is the shortest distance between the initial position and
final position of the body. Displacement can be positive or negative depending on the reference
point. Displacement will be zero if the body comes back to its initial position.
Read and Ponder
Now Let’s understand the concept of distance and displacement with the help of
the following diagrams:
Figure 2 Explanation of distance
(https://byjus.com/physics/distance-and- displacement/)
If the boy traveled from point A to point B to point C, the distance traveled or the total
path traveled will be 7m. While the displacement, which is the shortest distance from the initial
position (point A) to the final position (point C) is 5m
Figure 3 Distance and displacement
(http://thescienceclassroom.org/physics/motion-in-1-d/distance-and-displacement/)
Based on figure 3 displacement is different from distance because displacement only
sees the beginning and ending positions.
See if you can do this!
To intensify your understanding of the concepts of distance and displacement do the activities below:
Performance Task No. 2
Direction: Read the descriptions of distance and displacement placed below the table. Write
the assigned number in the column where they belong.
DISTANCE DISPLACEMENT
1. It is the length of the path travelled by a body while moving from an initial position to
a final position.
2. It is the shortest distance between the initial position and the final position of the body.
3. It is a scalar quantity
4. It is a vector quantity
5. Measure is always positive
6. Can be positive or negative depending on the reference point.
7. There is always this whenever there is motion
8. It will be zero if the body comes back to its initial position
Performance Task No. 3
Direction: Calculate the distance and displacement given in the problems below.
1. Ana walked 10 m from their house to the store to buy some eggs and then went back
home.
a. What is the total distance Ana has travelled?_____________________
b. What is her displacement? ___________________________________
2. Based on the given illustration answer the following questions:
a. If one box is equivalent to 5 m, what is the distance travelled from A to B?_____
b. If one box is equivalent to 5 m, what is the distance travelled from B to C?_____
c. If one box is equivalent to 5 m, what is the distance travelled from C to D?_____
d. What is the total distance travelled from A to D?_______
e. What is the displacement from A to D?______________
A B
C D
3. Leila wanted to buy some fresh vegetables from the market, so she decided to go early
in the morning. She travelled 20 m north, then 15 m west, she then turned 20 m south
and 10 m east to arrive at the market.
a. What is Leila’s total distance travelled?___________________________
Assessment No 1. (Distance and Displacement)
A. True or False. Direction: Read each statement properly. Write T if the statement
is true and write F if the statement is false. Use a separate sheet of paper for your
answer.
1. Distance refers to the length of the entire path traveled by an object.
2. Displacement is needed to determine the position of an object.
3. Reference point is referred to as the shortest distance from the initial
position to the final position
4. Motion is the change in position for a particular time interval.
5. Displacement can be positive or negative depending on the reference point.
B. Multiple Choice. Direction: Read the following questions and write the letter of
your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
6. Joel wanted to visit his mother in the hospital 1 km away from their house,
what is the distance Joel needed to travel to go to the hospital and back to
their house?
A. 500 m B. 1 km C. 1.5 km D. 2 km
7. Barry traveled 500m from the hospital to the market to buy fruits and
then returned to the hospital, what is the total distance traveled by Barry?
A. 0 m B. 550 m C. 1000 m D. 1500 m
8. Barry traveled 500m from the hospital to the market to buy fruits and
then returned to the hospital, what is the displacement of Barry?
A. 0 m B. 550 m C. 1000 m D. 1500 m
9. How can you explain your travel through an illustration if you travel 200m
from your house to the market then back to your house?
*For numbers 10-15 please refer to the illustrati on below
-20 m -15 m -10 m -5 m 0 5m 15m
10. What is the position of the dog?
A. -15 m B. -10 m C. 5 m D. 15 m
11. What is the position of the house?
A. -15 m B. -10 m C. 5 m D. 15 m
12. What is the position of the tree?
A. -15 m B. -10 m C. 0 m D. 5 m
13. What is the position of the dog with respect to the tree?
A. 10 m to the right of the tree
B. 10 m to the left of the tree
C. 15 m to the right of the tree
D. 15 m to the left of the tree
14. What is the position of the tree with respect to the house?
A. 5 m to the left of the house
B. 5 m to the right of the house
C. 10 m to the right of the house
D. 10 m to the left of the house
15. What is the position of the house with respect to the dog?
A. 5 m to the right of the dog
B. 10 m to the right of the dog
C. 20 m to the right of the dog
D. 25 m to the right of the dog
References
Science 7 Learner’s Material, First Edition 2017 Alvie J. Asuncion et.al
https://wonders.physics.wisc.edu/what-is-motion/
https://www.physicsclassroom.com/class/1DKin/Lesson-1/Distance-and-
Displacement#:~:text=Distance%20is%20a%20scalar%20quantity,object's%20overa
ll%20change%20in%20position.
https://byjus.com/physics/distance-and-displacement/
http://thescienceclassroom.org/physics/motion-in-1-d/distance-and-
displacement/
https://www.livingston.org/cms/lib9/NJ01000562/Centricity/Domain/1355/Moti
on%20Notes%20PPT%20STUDENT%20KEY.pdf
