Scalar and Vector Quantities

Question 1

What is the difference between scalar and vector quantities?

Answer 1

Scalar quantities have magnitude only (e.g., speed, distance, mass).

Vector quantities have magnitude and direction (e.g., velocity, displacement, force).

Question 2

Give three examples each of scalar and vector quantities.

Answer 2

Scalar: Speed, Energy, Time

Vector: Velocity, Acceleration, Force

Question 3

How are vector quantities represented?

Answer 3

Vectors are shown using arrows.

The length of the arrow represents the magnitude.

The direction of the arrow represents the direction of the vector.

Question 4

Is temperature a scalar or vector quantity? Explain.

Answer 4

Temperature is a scalar quantity because it only has magnitude and no direction.

Question 5

A car is moving at 20 m/s North. Is this speed or velocity? Explain.

Answer 5

This is velocity because it includes both magnitude (20 m/s) and direction (North).

If only “20 m/s” was given, it would be speed, which is a scalar.

Question 6

True or False? “Displacement and Distance mean the same thing.”

Answer 6

Distance is a scalar (total path taken).

Displacement is a vector (shortest straight-line distance from start to finish).