Scalar & Vector Quantities

• What are scalar quantities?

  Physical quantities with only magnitude
• What does magnitude refer to in physics?

  Magnitude refers to size or numerical value
• If a car travels at 22 meters per second, what is the magnitude of its speed?

  22 meters per second
• Which of the following is a scalar quantity?

  Temperature
• Why is speed considered a scalar quantity?

  Because it has no direction
• What are some examples of scalar quantities?

  Distance, mass, temperature, time
• What are vector quantities?

  Physical quantities with both magnitude and direction
• Which quantities are considered vectors?

  Velocity, displacement, acceleration, force, momentum
• How can you visualize vectors?

  Using arrows to represent magnitude and direction
• If you walk three kilometers without a direction, what does this represent?

  A scalar quantity: distance
• What happens when you specify a direction while walking three kilometers?

  You define a vector quantity: displacement
• How does the representation of a vector differ from a scalar?

  Vectors use arrows; scalars do not
• How would you represent four kilometers north as a vector?

  With an arrow pointing north, length four
• What does a negative vector indicate?

  Direction opposite to the positive vector
• How would you label a two-kilometer west vector as a negative vector?

  As minus two kilometers east
• What is the key difference between scalars and vectors?

  • Scalars: Only magnitude, no direction
  • Vectors: Both magnitude and direction
• What are the characteristics of scalar and vector quantities?

  Scalar Quantities:

  • Magnitude only
  • Examples: Distance, mass, temperature, time

  
  

  Vector Quantities:

  • Magnitude and direction
  • Examples: Velocity, displacement, acceleration, force, momentum