Difference between scalar and vector quantity

I've found two maps that lead to buried treasure. One tells me to start at the large boulder in the center of the island. I then have to go 50m, then 15m, then 45m, then 17m. The other map is a little different. On this second map, it tells me to start at the large boulder in the center of the island. I then have to go 50m South, then 15m East, then 45m South, then 17m West. Of these two maps, which would be the most helpful? Physics Pie I just baked an apple pie. Would you like a piece? Let's make it a game. I'm going to put the pie on the table, blindfold you and give you directions to the pie. We'll see how fast you can find it. Ready? Walk 10 meters, then 5 meters, then 12 meters, then 5 meters. Did you find the pie? No? That's impossible. I told you exactly how far you needed to walk. I'll give you another chance. Walk 10 meters north, then 5 meters west, then 12 meters south, then 5 meters east. Congratulations! Pretty tasty pie. Believe it or not, this little test was a perfect example of the similarities and differences between scalar quantities and vector quantities in physics - and why you can't afford to mix the two up when attempting to solve a problem. A scalar quantity is a quantity that has only magnitude. Magnitude is another way of saying a numerical amount. Scalar Example There are many different scalar quantities found not just in physics, but all around us. Common examples include: • Speed (The speed limit is 55mph) • Temperature (It is 75 degrees outsi...

Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: • Describe the difference between vector and scalar quantities. • Identify the magnitude and direction of a vector. • Explain the effect of multiplying a vector quantity by a scalar. • Describe how one-dimensional vector quantities are added or subtracted. • Explain the geometric construction for the addition or subtraction of vectors in a plane. • Distinguish between a vector equation and a scalar equation. Many familiar physical quantities can be specified completely by giving a single number and the appropriate unit. For example, “a class period lasts 50 min” or “the gas tank in my car holds 65 L” or “the distance between two posts is 100 m.” A physical quantity that can be specified completely in this manner is called a scalar quantity. Scalar is a synonym of “number.” Time, mass, distance, length, volume, temperature, and energy are examples of scalar quantities. Scalar quantities that have the same physical units can be added or subtracted according to the usual rules of algebra for numbers. For example, a class ending 10 min earlier than 50 min lasts 50 min − 10 min = 40 min 50 min − 10 min = 40 min. Similarly, a 60-cal serving of corn followed by a 200-cal serving of donuts gives 60 cal + 200 cal = 260 cal 60 cal + 200 cal = 260 cal of energy. When we multiply a scalar quantity by a number, we obtain the same scalar quantity but with a larger (or smaller) value. For example, if yesterday’s breakfa...

• Thescalar quantity is defined as the quantity that has only got magnitude, but not directions whereas, vector quantity comprises of both magnitude and directions. • The scalar quantity is only one dimensional and vector quantity is multi-dimensional. • Scalar quantity changes if its magnitude changes, but vector quantity changes when magnitude or direction or both changes. • There are normal algebra rules for the scalar quantity and also for vector quantity there is separate vector algebra. • The scalar quantity can divide another scalar quantity, but in case of the vector quantity, two vectors cannot be divided. Some of the examples of scalar quantities are mass, volume, charge, speed, time and electric potential. The distance between the two points in the space is the scalar quantity, but not its direction. Also, velocity is a vector quantity, because it is the measure of the rate of an object changing its position. Sep 4, 2019 by Rese Potgieter Wooden Status ( 396 points) selected Aug 14, 2021 by Siyavula Join MathsGee Questions & Answers, where you get instant answers to your questions from our AI, GaussTheBot and verified by human experts. We use a combination of generative AI and human experts to provide you the best solutions to your problems. On the MathsGee Questions & Answers, you can: 1. Get instant answer to your questions 2. Convert image to latex 3. AI-generated answers and insights 4. Get expert-verified answers 5. Vote on questions and answers 6. Tip your...

Scalar and Vector Quantities are used to describe the motion of an object. Scalar Quantities are defined as the physical quantities that have magnitude or size only. For example, distance, speed, mass, density, etc. However, vector quantities are those physical quantities that have both magnitude and direction like displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, mass, etc. It should be noted that when a vector quantity changes its magnitude and direction also changes similarly, when a scalar quantity changes, only its magnitude changes. What is Scalar and Vector Quantity? Scalar quantities are the quantities that only have a magnitude or size associated with them. These quantities can be expressed completely with a single number. Some examples of scalar quantities are – the mass of an object, the distance between two points, etc. For doing operations on scalar quantities, the usual rules of algebra work. These quantities can be added and subtracted in the same way numbers are added and subtracted. But only numbers with the same measuring unit can use the process for a scalar quantity. Examples of Scalar Quantities There exist many forms of scalar quantities some of them are listed below: • Mass • Speed • Distance • Time • Area • Volume • Density • Energy • Temperature • Electric Charge • Gravitational force On the other hand, vectors are quantities that have a direction associated with them. For addition and subtraction, these quantities obey the triangle law of vector additi...

Vector quantities Vector quantities have both magnitude and an associated direction. This makes them different from scalar quantities, which just have magnitude. Examples of vector quantities Some examples of vector quantities include: • force – eg 20 newtons (N) to the left • weight – eg 600 newtons (N) downwards • displacement – eg 50 kilometres (km) east • velocity – eg 11 metres per second (m/s) upwards • acceleration – eg 9.8 metres per second squared (m/s 2 ) downwards • momentum – eg 250 kilogram metres per second (kg m/s) south west The direction of a vector can be given in a written description, or drawn as an arrow. The length of an arrow represents the magnitude of the quantity. If one arrow is twice as long as another, it represents a force which has twice the magnitude. The diagrams show three examples of vectors, drawn to different scales.

• • • • • 1 – What is Scalar A scalar is a quantity that has a magnitude but doesn’t have a direction, such as speed or mass. For example, a car that travels at a speed of 60 kilometers per hour is a scalar because it only has a magnitude, which is 60 kilometers per hour, but it doesn’t have a direction, such as south or west. 2 – Examples of Scalar An example of a scalar is pushing a box to a distance of 5 meters, it is a scalar because it has a magnitude, which is 5 meters, but doesn’t have a direction such as left or right. Speed, such as the speed of a car traveling at 60 kilometers per hour, and mass, such as 10 kilograms, are also scalars because they have a magnitude but they don’t have a direction. 3 – What is Vector A vector is a quantity that has a magnitude and direction, such as displacement and velocity. an example of a vector pushing a box 10 meters to the right or a car traveling at a speed of 40 kilometers per hour to the south. A vector can be used most of the time to explain the magnitude and direction of something, such as a force acting on an object in a specific direction. 4 – Examples of Vector An example of a vector is pushing something in a specific direction, the pushing force has a magnitude and a direction, which means it’s a vector because it has a magnitude and a direction. 5 – difference between scalar and vector A small list of differences between a scalar and a vector is shown below. Scalar Vector It has magnitude but doesn’t have a directio...

Vector Quantity vs Scalar Quantity It is a well-known When you consider the units that define what Vector and scalar quantities have been the subject of many debates among scientists for many years. It took numerous studies and papers for clear distinctions to emerge between the two entities. Nowadays, it is easy to state what a scalar quantity is from a vector quantity. For you to work with vectors, you must be able to represent it in terms of direction. The difference between vector quantity and scalar quantity is quite clear. Due to the advancement in technology, There are two elements that define what a vector quantity is without which whatever it is cannot be defined as such. Similarly, a scalar quantity is defined by one element. If it is lacking, then there is no scalar quantity. Magnitude is the only thing that can define a scalar quantity. Therefore, the main difference between a vector quantity and a scalar quantity is that a vector quantity has both magnitude and direction while a scalar quantity has only magnitude and no direction. Some additional scalar quantities are; energy, mass, and density. These also depict a magnitude but cannot define a specific direction. The difference between vector quantity and scalar quantity is that the magnitude in the vector must be able to move in a given direction. If it cannot move in that given direction, science disqualifies it from being a vector quantity. In the same breath, a scalar quantity only has the magnitude with ...

Learning Objectives By the end of this section, you will be able to: • Define and distinguish between scalar and vector quantities. • Assign a coordinate system for a scenario involving one-dimensional motion. What is the difference between distance and displacement? Whereas displacement is defined by both direction and magnitude, distance is defined only by magnitude. Displacement is an example of a vector quantity. Distance is an example of a scalar quantity. A vector is any quantity with both magnitude and direction. Other examples of vectors include a velocity of 90 km/h east and a force of 500 newtons straight down. Figure \(\PageIndex\): The motion of this Eclipse Concept jet can be described in terms of the distance it has traveled (a scalar quantity) or its displacement in a specific direction (a vector quantity). In order to specify the direction of motion, its displacement must be described based on a coordinate system. In this case, it may be convenient to choose motion toward the left as positive motion (it is the forward direction for the plane), although in many cases, the x -coordinate runs from left to right, with motion to the right as positive and motion to the left as negative. (credit: Armchair Aviator, Flickr) The direction of a vector in one-dimensional motion is given simply by a plus (+) or minus (−) sign. Vectors are represented graphically by arrows. An arrow used to represent a vector has a length proportional to the vector’s magnitude (e.g., the...