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?

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

  Temperature
• What defines vector quantities?

  They have both magnitude and direction
• Which of the following is a vector quantity?

  Velocity
• What happens when you walk a distance of three kilometers?

  You could end up anywhere on the circle's circumference
• Why is distance considered a scalar quantity?

  It does not provide direction information
• What does specifying a direction do for displacement?

  It tells us exactly where you ended up
• How is a vector represented visually?

  With arrows indicating magnitude and direction
• How would you represent four kilometers north as a vector?

  As an arrow pointing north, length four kilometers
• What does a shorter arrow represent in vector notation?

  A smaller magnitude of the vector
• How can negative vectors be represented?

  By labeling them in the opposite direction
• What are the key differences between scalars and vectors?

  • Scalars: Only have magnitude, no direction
  • Vectors: Have both magnitude and direction
• How do you determine the direction of a vector?

  • Use arrows to indicate direction
  • Length of arrow shows magnitude
• How does specifying direction affect understanding of distance?

  • It converts distance into a specific displacement
  • Provides clarity on the endpoint location