Question

Unit of distance

Answer 1

Distance can be expressed in any suitable unit of length, eg., centimetre, metre, kilometre, etc. The SI unit of distance is metre(m). In CGS system, the unit of distance is centimetre. 

For example, if a person (moving body) moves from A to B (Fig. 1.6) (1 km), B to C (1 km) and then from C to D (1.5 km), then the total path length (distance) covered by the person is given by,

Distance travelled = AB + BC + CD 1 km + 1 km + 1.5 km = 3.5 km

So, the distance travelled by a body is a scalar quantity.