What is the difference between a scalar and a vector?

A quantity that has magnitude (size), but no direction, is a scalar. A quantity that has magnitude (size) AND direction is a vector.

Scalar quantities just have a magnitude. The direction does not matter.

Examples of scalar quantities are speed, distance, mass, and energy.

Vector quantities have a direction as well as a magnitude. They are often drawn as arrows on a diagram. When answering a question you may need to describe the direction (i.e a force of 3N straight downwards, a velocity of 7m/s North, a momentum of 16 kgm/s to the right). You may also need to resolve the vectors into their components before doing calculations with them.

Examples of vector quantities are force, momentum, velocity, displacement, and acceleration.

If an object is traveling at a constant speed, but changes direction (such as a car going around a roundabout, or a satellite in orbit), then its scalar speed will remain the same, but its vector velocity will change.

AV
Answered by Alex V. Physics tutor

14035 Views

See similar Physics A Level tutors

Related Physics A Level answers

All answers ▸

Given the Earth orbits the Sun at a distance of 1.49*10^11m with Me = 5.97*10^24kg and Msolar = 1.99*10^30, what is the gravitational force between the Earth and Sun?


What is the critical angle of a beam of light leaving a transparent material with a refractive index of 2?


What is the total energy of a spaceship of mass m, orbiting a planet of mass M in a circular orbit with radius r? The ship and the planet are taken to be an isolated system.


A nucleus of the stable isotope Pb(208,82) has more neutrons than protons. Explain why there is this imbalance between proton and neutron numbers by referring to the forces that operate within the nucleus.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning