Scalar and Vector Quantities

• What are scalar quantities?

  Quantities with magnitude only
• Why do scalar quantities not have direction?

  They only represent size or magnitude
• How is distance defined in physics?

  It is a measure of how far apart two points are
• If you travel 800 meters, what does that represent?

  Distance
• How does distance differ from displacement?

  Distance has no direction, displacement does
• What does displacement include that distance does not?

  Direction
• If you travel 800 meters and your displacement is 500 meters due west, what does this indicate?

  Displacement is distance in a specific direction
• How can vectors be represented visually?

  Using arrows
• What does the length of an arrow represent in vector representation?

  The magnitude of the vector
• What does the direction of an arrow indicate in vector representation?

  The direction of the vector
• What are the main differences between scalar and vector quantities?

  • Scalar quantities have magnitude only.
  • Vector quantities have both magnitude and direction.
  • Examples: Distance (scalar) vs. Displacement (vector).