c) Distance is the length of travel. Displacement is the straight line distance between the starting point and the ending point
This statement correctly identifies the difference between distance and displacement.
- Distance is a scalar quantity that refers to "how much ground an object has covered" during its motion. It is the total path length traveled by an object without considering the direction.
- Displacement, on the other hand, is a vector quantity that refers to "how far out of place an object is"; it is the object's overall change in position. It considers the direction from the starting point to the ending point and is represented by the straight line distance between these two points.
Options a), b), and d) are incorrect and do not accurately describe the difference between distance and displacement. Additionally, both distance and displacement can be measured in any units of length, such as meters, feet, kilometers, etc., depending on the context and preference — option d) inaccurately suggests they are measured in different units by definition.