Which quantity is described by magnitude only?

Which quantity is described by magnitude only?

• A. Vector
• B. Scalar
• C. Distance
• D. Velocity

Answer: (B)

Understanding the difference between scalars and vectors helps here: scalars are described by magnitude alone, with no direction attached. This means a single number fully defines them, like how much or how far something is. Vectors, in contrast, need both magnitude and direction to be fully specified. Velocity is a vector because you must know both how fast and in what direction. Distance is also described by a magnitude, but as a quantity it falls under scalars because it has no inherent direction. So the quantity described by magnitude only is a scalar.

Understanding the difference between scalars and vectors helps here: scalars are described by magnitude alone, with no direction attached. This means a single number fully defines them, like how much or how far something is. Vectors, in contrast, need both magnitude and direction to be fully specified. Velocity is a vector because you must know both how fast and in what direction. Distance is also described by a magnitude, but as a quantity it falls under scalars because it has no inherent direction. So the quantity described by magnitude only is a scalar.