Displacement may refer to:

Physical sciences

Mathematics and Physics

Displacement (geometry) In geometry and mechanics, a displacement is a vector whose length is the shortest distance from the initial to the final position of a point P undergoing motion. It quantifies both the distance and direction of the net or total motion along a s ...

, is the difference between the final and initial position of a point trajectory (for instance, the center of mass of a moving object). The actual path covered to reach the final position is irrelevant. ** Particle displacement, a measurement of distance of the movement of a particle in a medium as it transmits a wave (represented in mathematics by the lower-case Greek letter ξ) **

Displacement field (mechanics) A displacement field is an assignment of displacement vectors for all points in a region or body that is displaced from one state to another. A displacement vector specifies the position of a point or a particle in reference to an origin or to a p ...

, an assignment of displacement vectors for all points in a body that is displaced from one state to another ** Electric displacement field, as appears in Maxwell's equations * Wien's displacement law, a relation concerning the spectral distribution of blackbody radiation * Angular displacement, a change in orientation of a rigid body, the amount of rotation about a fixed axis.

Engineering

* Engine displacement, the total volume of air/fuel mixture an engine can draw in during one complete engine cycle *

Displacement (fluid) In fluid mechanics, displacement occurs when an object is largely immersed in a fluid, pushing it out of the way and taking its place. The volume of the fluid displaced can then be measured, and from this, the volume of the immersed object can b ...

, an object immersed in a fluid pushes the fluid out of the way * Positive displacement meter, a pump or flow meter which processes a definite fluid volume per revolution *Displacement has several meanings related to ships and boats ** Displacement hull, where the moving hull's weight is supported by buoyancy alone and it must displace water from its path rather than planing on the water's surface **

Displacement speed Hull speed or displacement speed is the speed at which the wavelength of a vessel's bow wave is equal to the waterline length of the vessel. As boat speed increases from rest, the wavelength of the bow wave increases, and usually its crest-to-tro ...

, a rule of thumb for non planing watercraft to estimate their theoretical maximum speed **

Displacement (ship) The displacement or displacement tonnage of a ship is its weight. As the term indicates, it is measured indirectly, using Archimedes' principle, by first calculating the volume of water displaced by the ship, then converting that value into wei ...

, several related measurements of a ship's weight * Insulation displacement connector, a type of electrical connector * Displacement mapping, a technique in 3D computer graphics

Chemistry

* Single displacement reaction, a chemical reaction concerning the exchange of ions * Double displacement reaction, a chemical reaction concerning the exchange of ions * Radioactive displacement law of Fajans and Soddy, elements/isotopes created during radioactive decay

Geology

*Earth Crustal Displacement, an aspect of the Pole shift hypothesis

Medicine

Displacement (orthopedic surgery) A bone fracture (abbreviated FRX or Fx, Fx, or #) is a medical condition in which there is a partial or complete break in the continuity of any bone in the body. In more severe cases, the bone may be broken into several fragments, known as a '' ...

, change in alignment of the fracture fragments

Social sciences

* Displacement (linguistics), the ability of humans (and possibly some animals) to communicate ideas that are remote in time and/or space *

Forced displacement Forced displacement (also forced migration) is an involuntary or coerced movement of a person or people away from their home or home region. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, UNHCR defines 'forced displacement' as follows: dis ...

, by persecution or violence * Displacement (psychology), a sub-conscious defense mechanism * Displacement (parapsychology), a statistical or qualitative correspondence between targets and responses. * Development-induced displacement, the displacement of population for economic development * Displacement may occur during gentrification.

Sport

* Displacement (fencing), a movement that avoids or dodges an attack

Other

* Child displacement