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AQA · GCSE · Combined Science · Higher

Meaning of a vector quantity and a scalar quantity

Q04.1 2 marks

Figure 8 shows a girl bowling a ball along a ten-pin bowling lane. The girl is trying to knock down the ten pins at the end of the bowling lane.

Black-and-white photograph of a ten-pin bowling lane. A bowling ball is rolling along the lane towards pins. Labels point to the pins, lane and ball.

Figure 8

Enlarged question image

Black-and-white photograph of a ten-pin bowling lane. A bowling ball is rolling along the lane towards pins. Labels point to the pins, lane and ball.
Figure 8

Velocity is a vector quantity, speed is a scalar quantity.

Describe what is meant by a vector quantity and a scalar quantity.

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Marking points

  1. 1 For a vector quantity, state that it has magnitude and direction.
  2. 2 For a scalar quantity, state that it has magnitude only.

Full-mark answer

A vector quantity has magnitude and direction. A scalar quantity has magnitude only.

Why this answer loses marks

A vector has direction and a scalar does not.

This omits magnitude for both definitions.

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