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Scalar and Vector Quantities
Scalar and Vector Quantities
In the study of nature and the physical world, the major quantities
we encounter are classified into two: scalars and vectors.
1 in
NUMBERS UNITS
S 1 m/s
The absence of one component is NOT ACCEPTED because a
magnitude will always have a number and unit.
1 in, E
MAGNITUDE DIRECTION
1 m/s, Down
A vector quantity will always have a magnitude and direction. The
sub-quantities below are examples of vector quantities.
SUBQUANTITIES COMMON
EXAMPLES DIRECTIONS
UNITS USED
displacement 1 in, N
inches (in),
1 cm, NE
-refers to how far centimetres
1 m, E North
the object is from its (cm), meters
1 ft, SE North East
starting point in one (m), feet (ft),
1 km, S East
direction. kilometres (km),
1 mi, Up South East
miles (mi)
South
South West
West
velocity metres per North West
second (m/s), Left
-refers to how fast 1 m/s, NE
kilometres per Right
the object in one 1km/h, Down
hour (km/h), Up
direction. 1 mph, E
miles per Down
hour (mph)
to time.
LET’S PRACTICE!
a) 4 centimetres
b) 23 m/s, Up
c) 18 m/s
d) 10 miles, NE
e) 13 m/s2