Position, distance and displacement.

Position describes exactly where something is located using a coordinate system. Think of it like giving someone directions to your house in Lagos using street names and house numbers. In physics, we use rectangular coordinates with x and y axes to pinpoint any location precisely on a plane.

Imagine you're standing at Lekki Toll Gate. Your position might be described as coordinates (5, 8) if we measure 5 metres east and 8 metres north from a fixed starting point. This is more precise than just saying "somewhere near the toll gate."

Distance is the total length of the path you travel, while displacement is the straight-line distance from your starting point to your ending point. If you walk from your home to school and back, your distance is the total metres covered, but your displacement is zero because you're back where you started.

Understanding position using coordinates helps you solve motion problems accurately in examinations.

Distance measures how far you've actually travelled along any path, no matter the direction. Think of it as the total length of ground you cover. Distance is always positive and never decreases—it only stays the same or increases as you move. Unlike displacement, which only cares about your starting and ending points, distance counts every single step of your journey.

Imagine you're travelling from Lagos to Ibadan. The straight-line distance might be 100 km, but if you drive along the actual road with its curves and turns, you might cover 130 km. That 130 km is your distance. You counted every metre of the winding road you actually travelled on.

Distance is measured in metres, kilometres, or centimetres depending on how far you're going. It's a scalar quantity, meaning it only needs a number and a unit—no direction needed.