Objectives

-Learn what vector and scalar quantities are

-Be able to distinguish between vector and scalar
quantities
 What is a Scalar
Quantity?
Scalar quantities have only magnitude (=how
much)

Examples:
10 meters
2 liters
20 kilometers per hour
30 baht
 What is a Scalar
Quantity?
Scalar quantities have only magnitude (=how much)

Examples:
10 meters
2 liters
20 kilometers per hour
30 baht

Scalar
10 meters
 What is a Vector
Quantity?
Vector quantities have magnitude AND direction

Examples:
10 meters to the northeast (=displacement)
100 kilometers and hour to the west
(=velocity)
 What is a Vector
Quantity?
Vector quantities have magnitude AND direction

Examples:
10 meters to the northeast (=displacement)
100 kilometers and hour to the west (=velocity)

10 meters to the NE

Vector
Why are Vectors Important?
Can an asteroids path be
described using vectors?

Yes! Asteroids have

speed AND a direction

We know when
meteor showers are
coming because of
our understanding of
vectors
 Practice
Label each quantity scalar or vector

1. 80GB
2. 20 meters per second to the north
3. 20 degrees Celsius
4. 25 centimeters
5. 8 Newton force upward
6. 35 seconds
7. 1.3 billion people in China
8. 80 kilograms
 Displacement vs Distance
Distance how far something moved (meters)

Displacement how far, AND what direction something moved

(meters to the NW)

Displacement Distance

VECTOR 18 km
18 m to the NW SCALAR
 Displacement vs
Distance
Distance how far something moved (meters)

Displacement how far, AND what direction something moved

(meters to the NW)

Is the red or yellow line distance?

DISTANCE Red is distance = how far moved
Finish
Yellow is displacement = how far
and what direction

DISPLACEMENT Displacement is always a straight

line, and will always be shorter
than distance
Start
 Displacement vs Distance
Distance how far something moved (meters)

Displacement how far, AND what direction something moved

(meters to the NW)

Classwork:
1. A man walks around the outside of park and ends up in the same spot he started.
What is his displacement? How much distance did he travel?

1km

*His displacement is 0
*His distance traveled is 4 km 1km PARK 1km

Start

*Scalar or vector? 1km

Finish
 Speed
Speed is how fast an object is traveling

Speed = distance (in meters)

time (in seconds)
s=d
t
It takes a swimmer 57.2 seconds to swim a
distance of 100 m. What is the swimmers
average speed?

No direction
Scalar
 Velocity
Velocity is how fast an object is going, AND its direction

Velocity = displacement (in meters)

time (in seconds)
Remember, displacement is distance AND direction

If you need to go from point A to point B in 10 minutes, what

velocity do you need to get there on time?
3.7 km N
A B

W E
Velocity = 3.7 km east = 0.37 km east/ minute
10 minutes S
Scalar or vector? Vector because has direction
 Speed vs Velocity
Speed how fast something is moving (m/s)

Velocity direction and speed of an object (displacement/s)

If I say Im driving 85 kilometers per hour in Chiang Mai, is that a

vector or scalar measurement?? Speed has no direction = Scalar

If I say Im driving 85 kilometers and hour north toward Chiang

Mai, is that a vector or scalar measurement?? Velocity has speed
and direction = Vector
Some Common Measurements
Measurement Example Vector or Scalar

Speed 20 meters/second no direction = scalar

Length 12m no direction = scalar
Displacement 10m to the north direction = vector
Volume 3 Liters no direction = scalar
Area 23 meters squared no direction = scalar
Mass 29 grams no direction = scalar
Velocity 60km/h to the north direction = vector
Force 56 Newtons down direction = vector
 Complete Questions in Notebook
Directions: Write vector or scalar 15-21 Complete the table
1. 40 baht ______________ Measurement Scalar or Vector
2. 20 Joules ______________
3. 1.2 billion atoms ______________ 15. Mass
4. 28 degrees Celsius ______________
5. 8 km/hr west ______________ 16. Displacement
6. 25 N down ______________
7. 3 Liters ______________ 17. Area
8. 23 km/hr in Bangkok______________
18. Velocity
9. 10 m west ______________
10. 79 kg ______________
19. Force

Directions: fill in 20. Speed

11. Velocity is speed with __________.
12. Displacement is direction and __________. 21. Weight

A mountain bike rider followed the red line

13. What was his displacement? 53km
14. What was his distance traveled? Finish Write questions and
answers in notebook
27km NE
Start