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Scalar and vector quantities - AQAVector quantities

Scientists often make measurements. The physical quantities they measure fall into two categories: scalars and vectors. Scalar and vector quantities are treated differently in calculations.

Part of Physics (Single Science)Forces

Vector quantities

Vector quantities have both and an associated direction. This makes them different from scalar quantities, which just have magnitude.

Examples of vector quantities

Some examples of vector quantities include:

  • force, eg 20 newtons (N) to the left
  • displacement, eg 50 kilometres (km) east
  • velocity, eg 11 metres per second (m/s) upwards
  • acceleration, eg 9.8 metres per second squared (m/s虏) downwards
  • momentum, eg 250 kilogram metres per second (kg m/s) south west

The direction of a vector can be given in a written description, or drawn as an arrow. The length of an arrow represents the magnitude of the quantity. The diagrams show three examples of vectors, drawn to different scales.

Three different arrows pointing in different directions,聽the first聽to the left 20 N,聽another to the right labelled 50 km and the third pointing downwards, labelled 9.8 m/s2.