Distance is the amount of ground that an object has covered during its motion. In other words, distance is the length of the space between two points. It is a scalar quantity. It is generally denoted by the letter ‘d’.
Displacement is the shortest distance between two points. It is a vector quantity because it involves direction. It is generally denoted by the letter ‘s’.
Speed is the rate of change of distance, whereas velocity is the rate of change of displacement. Speed and velocity are denoted by the letters ‘c’ and ‘v’, respectively.
The average speed of an object is calculated by total distance travelled divided by time. Speed is a scalar quantity; thus, it has only magnitude.
- Average speed = total distance travelled / time taken to travel that distance, or
- Speed = Distance / Time

Velocity is a vector quantity and therefore has both magnitude and direction.
Example: A car heading East at 50 m/s.

Acceleration is defined as the rate of change of velocity with respect to time.
It is a vector quantity, and is denoted by the letter ‘a’.

The distance travelled by an object can be represented by a distance-time graph. The distance travelled is represented by the y-axis and the time elapsed is represented by the x-axis. Similar is the case with a displacement-time graph.
The speed of an object can be represented by a speed-time graph, where speed is represented by the y-axis and time elapsed is represented by the x-axis.
Similar is the case with a velocity-time graph.
The acceleration of an object can be represented by an acceleration-time graph, where acceleration is represented by the y-axis and time elapsed is represented by the x-axis.
A pictorial representation of quantities discussed in Kinematics is shown below:

2.01 - Kinematics I

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