What defines distance in physics?

Distance in physics refers to the total movement of an object, measured along the path it has taken, and is independent of direction. This definition captures how far an object has traveled, regardless of its starting point or its final position. Unlike displacement, which is concerned with the shortest path between two points and takes direction into account, distance strictly quantifies the length of the path traveled.

The concept of distance applies in various contexts, including mechanical motion, where it can be calculated from the sum of different segments of a journey. This ensures that if an object moves in a curve or changes direction, the total distance is still quantified as the full length of the path traversed, rather than just a straight line from start to finish.

The other definitions, while related to motion, do not accurately encapsulate the concept of distance in physics. For example, the shortest path between two points defines displacement rather than distance. Consequently, distance remains a crucial and fundamental measure in understanding motion and movement in physics.