Lesson - Scalar Quantities, Average Velocity, and Position-time

Front

What is a scalar quantity?

Back

A scalar quantity has only magnitude (size) and no direction.

Front

Give two examples of scalar quantities.

Back

Time, Mass, Distance, Speed, Energy, Work.

Front

What is a vector quantity?

Back

A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.

Front

Give two examples of vector quantities.

Back

Displacement, Velocity, Force, Acceleration.

Front

How can you tell if a quantity is scalar or vector?

Back

Scalars have only magnitude, while vectors include both magnitude and direction (e.g., 5m vs. 5m [North]).

Front

What is average velocity?

Back

Average velocity is displacement divided by the total time, and it includes direction.

Front

What is the formula for average velocity?

Back

v_avg = Δd/Δt, where Δd is displacement in metres and Δt is time in seconds.

Front

What does the slope of a position-time graph represent?

Back

The slope represents the object’s velocity.

Front

What does a positive slope on a position-time graph mean?

Back

The object is moving in the positive direction.

Front

What is the difference between distance and displacement?

Back

Distance is the total path travelled (scalar), while displacement is the straight-line distance from the start to the end point (vector).