Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Magnitude refers to the size or amount of something, without considering its direction. In physics, it typically refers to the numerical value or absolute value of a vector quantity.
Related terms
Scalar Quantity: A physical quantity that can be described by its magnitude only (e.g., temperature).