Scalar and Vector Quantities

Click on the flashcard to see the answer

What is a scalar quantity?

A scalar quantity has only magnitude and no direction, such as speed or temperature.

What is a vector quantity?

A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction, such as velocity or force.

Give two examples of scalar quantities.

Examples of scalar quantities are temperature and mass.

Give two examples of vector quantities.

Examples of vector quantities are acceleration and force.

How do you represent a vector quantity graphically?

A vector is represented by an arrow; the length represents magnitude, and the arrow points in the direction.

What is the difference between speed and velocity?

Speed is a scalar quantity, while velocity is a vector quantity with magnitude and direction.

Can scalar quantities be negative?

Generally, scalar quantities can't be negative, except for temperature (in Celsius) or potential energy levels.

What does it mean when vectors are added together?

When vectors are added, their magnitudes and directions combine to form a resultant vector.

What is the meaning of 'magnitude' in vectors?

Magnitude refers to the size or length of a vector.

Is distance a scalar or vector quantity?

Distance is a scalar quantity because it only has magnitude, not direction.

Is displacement a scalar or vector quantity?

Displacement is a vector quantity because it includes both magnitude and direction.

Explain the term 'resultant vector'.

A resultant vector is the single vector that has the same effect as the combined vectors it represents.

How does one calculate the resultant of two perpendicular vectors?

Use the Pythagorean theorem to calculate the magnitude: c = √(a² + b²).

What is the difference between distance and displacement?

Distance is the total path traveled (scalar); displacement is the straight-line distance starting from the initial to the final point (vector).

What unit is commonly used for vectors in physics?

Vectors often use units like meters per second (m/s) for velocity or newtons (N) for force.

Understand Better