Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Scalar quantities are physical quantities that have only magnitude (size) but no specific direction associated with them. They can be described solely by their numerical value and unit.
Related terms
Speed: Speed is a scalar quantity that represents how fast an object is moving, without considering its direction.
Mass is a scalar quantity that measures the amount of matter in an object. It does not have any specific direction associated with it.
Temperature: Temperature is a scalar quantity that measures the average kinetic energy of particles in a substance. It does not have any specific direction associated with it.