Motion and
forces
An overview on all topics
, Scalars -
• In physics, every measurable quantity belongs to one of two types: scalars or vectors. This distinction
is important because it changes how you describe and calculate physical quantities.
• Scalars
• A scalar quantity is something that has only magnitude — that means it tells you how much or how big
something is, but not which way it’s acting or moving. Scalars are described with a number and a unit,
but they do not involve direction.
• Common examples of scalar quantities include:
• Distance – how far something travels (e.g. 100 m)
• Speed – how fast something moves, without direction (e.g. 20 m/s)
• Mass – how much matter is in an object (e.g. 5 kg)
• Energy – the amount of work an object can do (e.g. 500 J)
• Temperature – how hot or cold something is (e.g. 25°C)
• Time – how long something lasts (e.g. 10 seconds)
• Scalars are added and subtracted using normal arithmetic because direction doesn’t matter.
forces
An overview on all topics
, Scalars -
• In physics, every measurable quantity belongs to one of two types: scalars or vectors. This distinction
is important because it changes how you describe and calculate physical quantities.
• Scalars
• A scalar quantity is something that has only magnitude — that means it tells you how much or how big
something is, but not which way it’s acting or moving. Scalars are described with a number and a unit,
but they do not involve direction.
• Common examples of scalar quantities include:
• Distance – how far something travels (e.g. 100 m)
• Speed – how fast something moves, without direction (e.g. 20 m/s)
• Mass – how much matter is in an object (e.g. 5 kg)
• Energy – the amount of work an object can do (e.g. 500 J)
• Temperature – how hot or cold something is (e.g. 25°C)
• Time – how long something lasts (e.g. 10 seconds)
• Scalars are added and subtracted using normal arithmetic because direction doesn’t matter.
