Scalar and Vector Quantities in Physics
This page introduces the fundamental concepts of scalar and vector quantities in physics, with a focus on distance and displacement.
Distance is defined as a scalar quantity that measures how far an object moves. It only has magnitude and no direction. In contrast, displacement is a vector quantity that describes both the magnitude and direction of an object's change in position.
Definition: A scalar quantity has only magnitude, while a vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.
The page also touches on the difference between speed and velocity:
Highlight: Velocity describes an object's direction as well as its speed, making it a vector quantity. Speed, on the other hand, is a scalar quantity.
Examples of vector quantities include acceleration, force, velocity, and displacement. Scalar quantities include distance and speed.
Example: If an object moves in a straight line from a starting point to a finishing point, the displacement is a vector quantity representing this change in position.
The page concludes by emphasizing that scalar quantities only have magnitude, while vector quantities have both magnitude and direction.