Scalars and Vectors

A scalar is a quantity that has magnitude and no direction. It is a one dimensional measurement of a quantity. Examples of scalars are volume, density, speed, energy, mass, and time. Scalars don’t have direction, due to this feature, the scalar quantity can be said to be represented in one dimension. A vector has more than one number associated with it. It has a magnitude, called speed, as well as a direction, like North or Southwest or 10 degrees west of North. Examples of vectors are Velocity & Acceleration. Mathematicians and scientists call a quantity which depends on the direction a vector quantity. Vector quantities have two characteristics, magnitude and direction.