1. Vector, or Scalar?

2. Some physical quantities have a direction, and some do not.

3. When we say physical “quantities”, we mean things like time, distance, area, density, etc.

4. When we say “direction” we mean a direction you can point to. Examples of directions are north, south, east, west, but also up, down, left, right. Also combinations, such as southeast, “up and to the left”, and so on.

5. Vector quantities have magnitude and direction. Scalar quantities have magnitude, but no direction.

6. You should know which quantities are vectors, and which are scalars. Partly you know by memorizing, partly by familiarity, partly by it making sense.

7. Here we go:

8. Time…is it a vector, or a scalar? Scalar (no direction. “Five seconds to the left” doesn’t make sense.)

9. Mass…vector, or scalar? Scalar (no direction)

10. Distance? scalar

11. Displacement? vector (Displacement is like distance, but in a particular direction. For example, 2 meters to the west.)

12. Speed? scalar

13. Velocity? vector (Velocity is like speed, but in a particular direction. For example, 25 meters per second to the north.)

14. Acceleration…is it a vector, or a scalar? vector

15. Density? scalar

16. Force? vector

17. Normal force? Vector. (All forces are vectors.)

18. Friction force? Vector. (All forces are vectors.)

19. Elastic force (spring force)? Vector. (All forces are vectors.)

20. Tension force? Vector. (All forces are vectors.)

21. Gravitational force? Vector. (All forces are vectors.)

22. Weight force? Vector. And “weight” is the same thing as gravitational force. (And all forces are vectors.)

23. Energy? scalar. (All types of energy are scalars.)

24. Kinetic Energy? scalar. (All types of energy are scalars.)

25. Gravitational Potential Energy? scalar. (All types of energy are scalars.)

26. Elastic Potential Energy? scalar. (All types of energy are scalars.)

27. Work Energy? scalar. Work is a transfer of energy. (And all types of energy are scalars.)

28. Momentum? vector

29. Impulse? vector

30. Electric Field? Vector. Any quantity that we represent by arrows must be a vector.

31. Magnetic Field? Vector. Any quantity that we represent by arrows must be a vector.

32. Gravitational Field? Vector. Any quantity that we represent by arrows must be a vector.

33. Electric Potential (a.k.a.Voltage)? scalar

34. Current? scalar

35. Resistance? scalar

36. Charge? scalar

37. Distance Speed Mass Time These are all _______.

38. Distance Speed Mass Time These are all scalars.

39. Gravitational force (a.k.a.weight) Elastic force Friction force Normal force Tension force These are all ______.

40. Gravitational force (a.k.a.weight) Elastic force Friction force Normal force Tension force These are all vectors.

41. Kinetic energy Elastic potential energy Gravitational potential energy Internal energy Work These are all _______.

42. Kinetic energy Elastic potential energy Gravitational potential energy Internal energy Work These are all scalars.

43. Momentum Impulse These are all _____.

44. Momentum Impulse These are all scalars.