Vectors and Scalars

Target Language or Knowledge:

Displacement is distance in a given direction Another word for magnitude is size. A vector quantity has magnitude and direction. A scalar quantity has only got magnitude, not direction. Time is a scalar quantity because it does not have direction. When drawing scale force diagrams always make sure that you have included a scale. Any vector quantity can be shown by drawing it as an arrow. Forces are vector quantities because they have both magnitude and direction. Speed is a scalar quantity because it is measured in meters per second, there is no direction given. Distance is a scalar quantity because it gives information about how far an object moves, but not about its direction.