Measuring Horizontal and Vertical Distance (Displacement)
Step 1 - Obtain scale value. The distance between the two seams in the mat is 2 meters. What is the measured distance of the seams in the mat on your computer screen? When viewing your image on the computer screen, measure the actual distance of the scale and set up a ratio.
real life distance (2 m or 200 cm)/ measured distance (4.7 cm)
Step 2 - To convert the length measurement to a real life horizontal displacement, you need to multiply the measured distance on your computer screen by your scale factor.
STEP 2 Example:
Real Distance = 2 meters
Measured Distance = 4.7 cm
Scale = real life distance/ measured distance = 200 cm / 4.7 cm = 42.55
Note: 42.55 cm is the scaled value.
STEP 3: Measure Displacement
If the measured distance that the gymnast traveled from hands to feet on the computer screen was 3.56 cm, what is the actual horizontal distance that was traveled, from take-off to landing?
real distance = measured distance x scale factor
x = 3.56 cm x 42.55
151 cm = 3.56 cm x 42.55
Note: The horizontal displacement from the take-off point of the hands to the landing of the feet is 151 cm (or approximately 1.5 meters)