Difference Between Scalar and Vector Quantity

Hello guys, I hope you all are doing great. In today’s tutorial, we will have a look at Difference Between Scalar and Vector Quantity. Scaler is a quantity that is described with the magnitude while for a description of vector quantity there is need of both magnitude and direction. Both of these two are main classifications of quantities.

. In common these two quantities look similar but these completely difference. In today’s post, we will discuss both of them and find their differences. So let’s get started with Difference Between Scalar and Vector Quantity.

Difference Between Scalar and Vector Quantity

Scalar

• Scalar quantity only tells about the magnitude, not direction.

• Its nature is simple.
• There is similar behavior is discuss for scalar in physics and math.
• This quantity shows on varied behavior for changing in the coordinate system
• If there is variation in the quantity it will vary the magnitude of that quantity.
• Scalar quantity can be divided into further scalar quantity.
• It is a one-dimensional quantity.
• It denoted with the symbol of quantity.
• Electric potential is a scalar quantity
• Distance between two points is scalar quantity in 3D space.
• Scalar change just magnitude change
• Math expression give just scalar
• This quantity can not be resolved
• Force is not scalar and charge density is scalar
• Examples of scalar are temperature, speed, charge, etc

• The physical items are mentioned in number form and with units.
• Scale is defined with multiple of quantity and units. For example 2 meter distance
• Scaler define with use of real numbers not with positive only
• These features also work for terms that have no dimensions
• It follows the basic rules of algebra.

Vector

• Vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.
• Its examples are displacement, force, velocity, acceleration.
• Vector can not be divided.
• Its nature is complicated.

• Change in a vector can cause in direction as well magnitude also both
• Math results of a vector can be scalar as well as vector
• These terms can be solved through the use of sine and cosine
• the formula for difference for two vectors is final- initial vector
• It denoted a bold symbol of quantity or arrow on the symbol of an arrow.
• It can be single, 2 or 3 dimensional.
• It follows the vector rule of algebra.

 

Scalar vs. Vector Quantity

Scalar

• Solar quantity only comes with magnitude and size.
• It is called a scalar since it has one dimension.
• If there is a change in scalar quantity, then change in magnitude.
• This quantity is not resolved into components.
• The mathematical techniques that come with more than 2 scalar quantities provide a single scalar.
• The common examples of scalar quantities are:
  • Speed
  • Work
  • Distance
  • Power
  • Temperature
  • Volume
  • Charge
  • Density
  • Entropy
  • Gravitational potential
  • Frequency
  • Energy
  • Length
  • Kinetic energy
  • Specific heat
  • Power
  • Calorie

Vector

• Vector quantity comes with both direction and magnitude.
• It can exist in any dimension, single, two, or three.
• The change in vector quantity also affects changes in magnitude or direction or both.
• They can resolve din components with the use of sine or cosine of adjacent angles.
• Mathematical operations for two or more vectors can give scalars or vectors. Like the dot product of two vectors is a scalar, and the cross product sum or subtraction gives a vector.
• The main examples of vectors are
• weight
• Shearing Stress
• velocity
• Electric field intensity
• Centrifugal force
• Torque
• Momentum
• Electric flux

Similarities between scalars and vectors

• They can define a certain physical quantity.
• Both are measurable with the use of instruments and are quantifiable.
• They come with certain finite magnitudes and have specific dimensions and units.

Faqs

What are 5 differences between scalar and vector quantity?

Feature	Scalar Quantity	Vector Quantity
Definition	SINGLE magnitude	magnitude and direction
Dimensions	One-dimensional	Multi-dimensional
Algebra	Simple arithmetic and algebra	vector algebra like dot product, cross product
Representation	single letter or symbol	Bold letters or symbols with arrows above them
Examples	Mass, time, speed, temperature, energy, distance, volume	Displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, momentum, electric field

That is all about difference between scalar and vector quantity. If you have any query ask in comments. Thanks for reading. Have a good day.