SCALAR &

VECTOR
QUANTITIES
PHYSICAL
QUANTITIES-
Can be classified as scalars or vectors
Scalar quantities are measured with numbers and units.

length temperature time

(e.g. 16 cm) (e.g. 102 °C) (e.g. 7 s)

EXAMPLE:
•The mass, for example has a magnitude of 15 kg.
•Time, is specified to be 30 seconds.
•Speed is given to be 100 meters/second (m/s)
•Energy is given to be 4,184 joules (J).
WHAT IS A EXAMPLE:
•Velocity, for example, has a magnitude of 80 m/s and the

VECTOR? direction is westward.

Vector quantities are
measured with numbers and
units, but also have a specific
direction.
•Displacement has a 20-m magnitude going west
(direction).
•Acceleration is given to be 9.8m/s2 (magnitude) downward
(direction)
•Force is 500 Newton (magnitude) at 200 north of east
(direction).
acceleration displacement force
(e.g. 200 miles
(e.g. 30 m/s 2 (e.g. 2 N
northwest)
upwards) downwards)
 A vector is represented by
a symbol- an arrow.

The head of the arrow indicates

the direction of the vector, while
the tail represents the origin.
Length of the arrow
tail head

An arrow representing a vector

 SPEED OR VELOCITY?
Distance is a scalar and displacement is a vector. Similarly, speed is a
scalar and velocity is a vector.
SPEED
Speed is the rate of change of distance in the direction of travel.
Speedometers in cars measure speed. S
VELOCITY
Velocity is a rate of change of displacement and has both magnitude and
direction. V
Averages of both can be useful:

average
speed
= distance
time
average
velocity
= displacement
time
T
 Identify each of the following quantities as either a scalar or a vector
quantity:
1. Work SCALAR
2. Momentum VECTOR
3. Acceleration VECTOR
4. Luminous intensity SCALAR
5. Number of moles
SCALAR
6. Magnetic field
VECTOR
7. Force
VECTOR
8. Wavelength
SCALAR
9. Frequency
SCALAR
10.heat
SCALAR