1. Home
  2. >Physics
  3. >Scalars, Vectors and Motion
Help

Scalars, vectors, and one dimensional motion

Everything You Need in One Place

Homework problems? Exam preparation? Trying to grasp a concept or just brushing up the basics? Our extensive help & practice library have got you covered.

Learn and Practice With Ease

Our proven video lessons ease you through problems quickly, and you get tonnes of friendly practice on questions that trip students up on tests and finals.

Instant and Unlimited Help

Our personalized learning platform enables you to instantly find the exact walkthrough to your specific type of question. Activate unlimited help now!

0/2
?
Intros
Lessons
  1. Introduction to scalars, vectors, and one dimensional motion
  2. How to write scalars and vectors; definitions of distance, position and displacement
  3. Definitions of speed and velocity
0/2
?
Examples
Lessons
  1. Distance and displacement, speed and velocity
    Betty walks 5 m to the east, then 7 m to the west, in 10 s.
    1. What is the total distance travelled?
    2. What are Betty's initial and final positions, and displacement?
    3. What is Betty's speed?
    4. What is Betty's velocity?
    1. Rearranging v⃗=Δd⃗/t\vec{v} = \Delta\vec{d}/t for displacement and time
      A car travels at 11.0 m/s [E]
      1. What is its displacement if it travels for 13.5 s?
      2. How long does it take to travel 542 m?
      Topic Notes
      ?

      In this lesson, we will learn:

      • Definition of scalar and vector
      • How to write scalars and vectors in physics
      • The definitions of distance, displacement, speed, and velocity
      • Calculations involving scalars and vectors

      Notes:

      • Scaler: a quantity with a magnitude only

      • Vector:a quantity with magnitude and direction

      • Symbols for vectors can be written with arrows on top (like d⃗\vec{d}), symbols for scalars do not have arrows (like t)
      • Distance, speed, time, and mass are examples of scalars: they do not have a direction.
      • Position, displacement, and velocity are examples of vectors: they do have direction.

      Displacement

      Δd⃗\Delta \vec{d}: d⃗f−d⃗i\vec{d}_f - \vec{d}_i

      Δd⃗:displacement,  in  meters  (m)\Delta \vec{d}: \mathrm{displacement, \;in\;meters\;(m)}

      d⃗f:final  position,  in  meters  (m)\vec{d}_f: \mathrm{final\;position, \;in\;meters\;(m)}

      d⃗i:initial  position,  in  meters  (m)\vec{d}_i: \mathrm{initial\;position,\;in\;meters\;(m)}


      Speed

      v=d/tv = d/t

      v:speed,  in  meters  per  second  (m/s)v:\mathrm{speed, \;in \;meters \;per \;second \;(m/s)}

      d:distance,  in  meters  (m)d:\mathrm{distance, \;in \;meters \;(m)}

      t:time  interval,  in  seconds  (s)t:\mathrm{time \;interval, \;in \;seconds \;(s)}


      Velocity

      v⃗=Δd⃗/t\vec{v} = \Delta \vec{d}/t

      v⃗:velocity,  in  meters  per  second  (m/s)\vec{v}: \mathrm{velocity,\;in\;meters\;per\;second\;(m/s)}