Magnitude of displacement of a particle in motion for a given time is the shortest distance between the initial and find position of the particle in that time, whereas the total length of the path covered by particle is the actual path traversed by the particle in given time. if a particle goes from A to B to C in time t as shown in Fig., then
Magnitude of displacement = distance AC.
Total path length = distance AB + distance BC.
From above we note that total path length (AB+BC) is greater (AC).if there is a motion of the particle in one dimension i.e., along a straight line, then the magnitude of displacement becomes equal to total path length traversed by the particle in the given time.
