Scalars and Vectors in One Dimension - AP Physics 1

What is the difference between distance and displacement?

Distance is scalar; displacement is vector. Distance is total path; displacement is net change in position.
Which is a scalar: temperature or acceleration?

Temperature is a scalar. Temperature has no directional component.
Identify a scalar: power or momentum?

Power is a scalar. Power has no direction, momentum does.
What is the result of adding two vectors?

The result is a resultant vector. The sum combines both vectors into one.
Identify a vector: work or impulse?

Impulse is a vector. Impulse has direction, work does not.
What kind of quantity is time?

Time is a scalar quantity. Time has magnitude but no direction.
What determines a vector's direction?

The direction of the arrow determines it. Arrow direction shows which way vector points.
How do you add two vectors?

Use the head-to-tail method. Connect tail of second to head of first.
What is a scalar quantity?

A scalar quantity has magnitude only. Examples include mass, speed, time, and energy.
State the formula for average speed.

$\text{Average speed} = \frac{\text{total distance}}{\text{total time}}$ . Uses total distance traveled along the path.
State the formula for average velocity.

$Average velocity = \frac{\text{total displacement}}{\text{total time}}$ . Uses total displacement, not total distance.
State the SI unit for displacement.

The SI unit for displacement is meter (m). Same as distance since both measure length.
Which is a scalar: energy or momentum?

Energy is a scalar. Energy has no direction, momentum does.
Is mass a scalar or vector?

Mass is a scalar. Mass only has magnitude, no direction.
Is velocity a scalar or vector?

Velocity is a vector. Velocity includes both speed and direction.
Is speed a scalar or vector?

Speed is a scalar. Speed only indicates magnitude, not direction.
What kind of quantity is force?

Force is a vector quantity. Force has both magnitude and direction.
Identify a vector: distance or displacement?

Displacement is a vector. Displacement includes direction from start to end.
Identify a scalar: speed or velocity?

Speed is a scalar. Speed only indicates how fast, not direction.
Which is a vector: torque or pressure?

Torque is a vector. Torque has direction, pressure does not.
Choose the vector: acceleration or temperature?

Acceleration is a vector. Acceleration has direction, temperature does not.
Is displacement a scalar or vector?

Displacement is a vector. Displacement has both magnitude and direction.
Choose the scalar: mass or force?

Mass is a scalar. Mass has no direction, force has direction.
What kind of quantity is volume?

Volume is a scalar quantity. Volume has magnitude but no direction.
Which is a vector: electric charge or electric field?

Electric field is a vector. Electric field has direction, charge does not.
Which quantity can be negative: speed or velocity?

Velocity can be negative. Negative indicates direction opposite to positive reference.
What is the magnitude of a vector?

Magnitude is the length of the vector. Also called the absolute value of the vector.
Which is a scalar: volume or velocity?

Volume is a scalar. Volume only has magnitude, no direction.
What does the direction of a vector arrow represent?

The direction represents the vector's direction. The arrowhead points in the vector's direction.
What does the length of a vector arrow represent?

The length represents the magnitude. Longer arrows indicate larger magnitudes.
State the SI unit for distance.

The SI unit for distance is meter (m). Same as displacement since both measure length.
What is a vector quantity?

A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction. Examples include velocity, force, and displacement.
What does a negative velocity indicate?

It indicates motion in the opposite direction. Shows movement toward the negative direction.

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