ELI5: matter displacement

What is matter displacement?

Matter displacement is when something moves from one place to another, or when one thing pushes another thing out of the way—like how a boat pushes water aside as it moves through a lake [3]. In physics, it can also mean how objects change position, or how dark matter might affect space around it [2].

Why does it happen?

Things move because forces push or pull them, just like when you push a toy across the floor [6]. Sometimes displacement happens because people have to leave their homes due to disasters or climate change, or because matter gets pushed by energy waves [1][5].

What does it feel like?

If you're experiencing displacement, it's like having to suddenly leave your favorite place and go somewhere new and unfamiliar [1]. For objects, displacement is simply the distance between where something started and where it ended up [6].

How do you fix it?

For environmental displacement, communities need help rebuilding and adapting to climate change [1]. For objects moving, you can calculate where they went using physics, or you can measure how far they traveled [6].