A reference point is a place or object used for comparison to determine if something is in motion. An object is in motion if it changes position relative to a reference point. Objects that we call stationary—such as a tree, a sign, or a building—make good reference points.

An example of a reference point that is moving is when you look out the window of a car and notice that you are moving faster than the car next to you. The car next to you is moving, it is just moving slower than your car. You use that other car as a reference point to determine that your car is moving.

The point on the graph where the x and y axis meet is the reference point or where the object’s home base is located (their starting point). If the arrow or line is pointing away or moving away from the x axis then the object is moving away from their reference point or starting point.

What is another word for reference point?

The workpiece reference point (alternative term: part zero) is a reference point in the coordinate system of a CNC-processing centre. Generally, the workpiece reference point refers to the workpiece stop and is identical with the outside edge of a square panel on the machine.

a displacement. When you describe a position, you only specify a distance.

[′ref·rəns di‚rek·shən] (navigation) A direction used as a basis for comparison of other directions.

Each states your location relative to a certain point. This point is called the reference point. A reference point is the starting point you choose to describe the location, or position, of an object. The reference point in the first example is your friend.

A location to which you compare other locations. It means that the distance is not changing. Distance traveled does not depend on the path you take.

Distance is a scalar quantity that refers to “how much ground an object has covered” during its motion. Displacement is a vector quantity that refers to “how far out of place an object is”; it is the object’s overall change in position.