1. Constant Motion
HS-PS1
Level 1

2. Scalar a quantity that can be described by ONE value, the magnitude
Scalar Example
Magnitude
Speed
20 m/s
Distance
10 m
Temperature
28 ºC
Time
12 s
the size or amount, including units

3. Vector a quantity that includes magnitude and direction
Magnitude & Direction
Velocity
20 m/s, N
Acceleration
10 m/s/s, E
Force
5 N, West
Arrows are often used to represent vector quantities
The length of the line represents the magnitude and the arrow indicates direction
Scalar and Vector Video

4. Distance Scalar quantity Actual path that an object takes
Cannot be negative

5. Displacement Vector quantity Straight line from start to finish
Can be negative or zero

6. Distance and displacement video

7. Using Vectors
A man walks 54.5 meters east, then another 30 meters east. Calculate his displacement relative to where he started.
Notice that the SIZE of the arrow conveys MAGNITUDE and the way it was drawn conveys DIRECTION. +
54.5 m E
30 m E
if 2 similar vectors point in the SAME direction, ADD them.
84.5 m E
This is called the RESULTANT vector.

8. If 2 vectors are going in opposite directions, you SUBTRACT
A man walks 54.5 meters east, then 30 meters west. Calculate his displacement relative to where he started.
54.5 m E
30 m W
If 2 vectors are going in opposite directions, you SUBTRACT
This is called the RESULTANT vector.
24.5 m E

9. Determine the distance & displacement for A and B below.
distance = 12 km distance = 18 km
displacement = 12 km East displacement = 6 km East

10. Vectors & Graphs
(N)

11. Vectors & Graphs

12. Vectors & Graphs

13. Distance vs. Displacement with Chalk
Create a table similar to the one below on the table with chalk
Using a different color, staying on the lines, make a path from start to finish.
3. Measure the distance and displacement your mark traveled from start to finish.
10 cm b2
FINISH
10 cm a2 c2
To calculate displacement while changing x and y, draw a right triangle and use the pythagorean theorem….. a2 + b2 = c2
START