Displacement Calculator

What Is Displacement?

Displacement is the straight-line distance an object has moved from its starting position, along with the direction. Unlike total distance traveled, displacement considers only the net change in position. It is a vector quantity and can be positive, negative, or zero.

For example, if you walk 5 meters forward and then 3 meters back, your total distance traveled is 8 meters, but your displacement is only 2 meters forward. Use our average velocity calculator to find velocity from displacement and time.

How to Calculate Displacement

Displacement Formula (SUVAT Equation)

When an object moves with constant acceleration, its displacement can be calculated using one of the four SUVAT kinematic equations:

Where:

• s = displacement (m)
• v₀ = initial velocity (m/s)
• a = acceleration (m/s²)
• t = time (s)

Worked Example: Free Fall

An object dropped from rest (v₀ = 0) falls under gravity (a = 9.81 m/s²) for 5 seconds. What is its displacement?

s = 0 × 5 + ½ × 9.81 × 5²
s = 0 + ½ × 9.81 × 25
s = 122.6 meters (about 402 feet)

After those 5 seconds, the object has reached a velocity of v = 0 + 9.81 × 5 = 49 m/s (110 mph) and has kinetic energy of ½mv².

Other Kinematic (SUVAT) Equations

The SUVAT equations are a set of four equations that describe motion with constant acceleration. The displacement formula above is just one of them. Others include v = v₀ + at (our velocity calculator), v² = v₀² + 2as, and s = ½(v₀ + v)t. Together, they form the foundation of kinematics in classical mechanics.