Usually, both these terms sound the same, but there is a difference between scalar and vector quantities. Both these quantities are used to represent the motion of an object.
Difference Between Scalar and Vector
A scalar quantity is different from a vector quantity in terms of direction. Scalars don’t have direction whereas vector has. Due to this feature, the scalar quantity can be said to be represented in one dimensional whereas a vector quantity can be multi-dimensional. From the table given below, let us learn more differences between scalars and vectors.
| Difference Between Scalar and Vector | |
|---|---|
| Scalar | Vector |
| It has only the magnitude | It has direction and magnitude |
| Only one dimensional | It is multidimensional |
| This quantity changes with the change in magnitude | This changes with magnitude and direction |
| Normal rules of algebra are applicable here | There is a different set of rules known as vector algebra |
| One scalar quantity can divide another scalar | One vector cannot divide another vector |
| In the example of speed, time, etc, the distance between the points is a scalar quantity, not the direction | Velocity could be an example because it is a measurement of the rate of change of an object’s position |