GCSE Physics - Scalar and Vector Quantities #41

Cognito2 minutes read

Scalars are physical quantities with only magnitude, while vectors have magnitude and direction, represented by arrows. Negative vectors can indicate opposite directions.

Insights

  • Scalars are physical quantities like speed or temperature that only have size, while vectors like velocity or force have both size and direction, shown with arrows.
  • Vectors, unlike scalars, require arrows to indicate not just the amount but also the direction, allowing for representation of opposite directions with negative values.

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Recent questions

  • What are scalars and vectors?

    Scalars have only magnitude, vectors have magnitude and direction.

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Summary

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Scalars vs. Vectors: Magnitude and Direction Explained

  • Scalars are physical quantities that only have magnitude, such as speed, distance, mass, temperature, and time, while vectors have both magnitude and direction, including velocity, displacement, acceleration, force, and momentum. Scalars can be represented by numerical values, while vectors are depicted with arrows indicating both magnitude and direction. Negative vectors can also be used to represent opposite directions.
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