To understand scalar and vector. It will help to understand the students clearly.

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What is a scalar?
Scalar quantities are measured with numbers and units.
length
(e.g. 102°C)
time
(e.g. 16cm)
temperature
(e.g. 7s)

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What is a vector?
Vector quantities are measured with numbers and units, but
also have a specific direction.
acceleration
(e.g. 30m/s2
upwards)
displacement
(e.g. 200miles
northwest)
force
(e.g. 2N
downwards)

4. More about Vectors
 A vector is represented on paper by an arrow
1. the length represents magnitude
2. the arrow faces the direction of motion
3. a vector can be “picked up” and moved on
the paper as long as the length and direction
its pointing does not change

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Distance and Displacement
• Distance (d) refers to the length of the
entire path that the object travelled.
(Length between two points)
• Displacement (s) refers to the shortest
distance between the object’s two
positions, like the distance between its
point of origin and its point of
destination.

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Comparing scalar and vector quantities

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• Distance = total length of travel
• Displacement = change in position =
final position – initial position or Δx = xf –
xi
• Displacement can be positive, negative,
or zero

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Displacement is how far a body is from its
original position, including its direction.
Displacement

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Distance = 50 miles
Displacement =
50 miles South East
?
Magnitude Direction
A
B

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Vector or scalar?

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Adding vectors
Displacement is a quantity that is independent of the
route taken between start and end points.
Any two vectors of the same type can be added in this way
to find a resultant.
Two or more displacement
vectors can be added
“nose to tail” to calculate a
resultant vector.
A
B C
resultant vector
If a car moves from A to B and then to C, its total
displacement will be the same as if it had just moved in a
straight line from A to C.

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Simplifying vectors
Because of the way vectors are added, it is always possible to
simplify a vector by splitting it into components.
A
B
C
Imagine that instead of traveling via B, the car travels via D:
D
The car has a final displacement of x miles east and y miles
north. This can be represented by (x,y).
x
y
Its displacement is the
same, but it is now much
easier to describe.
x component
y
component
How would you describe
the car’s displacement in
component terms?