What is the difference between distance and displacement, and how do their magnitudes compare?

Distance is the total path length covered by an object, which is a scalar quantity. Displacement is the shortest straight-line distance between the initial and final positions of an object, which is a vector quantity. 1. **Equal Magnitude:** When an object moves in a straight line without changing its direction, the magnitude of its displacement is equal to the distance covered. 2. **Unequal Magnitude:** If an object moves along a curved path or changes its direction during motion, the magnitude of its displacement will be less than the total distance covered. 3. **General Rule:** The magnitude of displacement is always less than or equal to the distance.