<P> The distance covered by a vehicle ( for example as recorded by an odometer ) , person , animal , or object along a curved path from a point A to a point B should be distinguished from the straight - line distance from A to B. For example , whatever the distance covered during a round trip from A to B and back to A , the displacement is zero as start and end points coincide . In general the straight - line distance does not equal distance travelled , except for journeys in a straight line . </P>
the length and direction of a straight line between two locations or positions
displacement