what is the difference b/w a vector and a scaler?

Answer 1

Both of the other answers I see are right, but here are some examples:

1. The restaurant is a mile from here (scalar -- magnitude only). The restaurant is a mile west of here (vector -- both magnitude and direction).

2. The car is going 60 mph (scalar). The car is headed northwest at 60 mph (vector).

3. The point P is located 5 units from the origin (scalar). From the origin, the point P is located 3 units to the right on the x-axis, and 4 units up in the y-direction (vector).

4. The satellite is travelling 17,500 mph (scalar). The satellite is travelling 17,500 mph in a counterclockwise circular orbit around the earth (vector, but a special kind of vector that follows the so-called "right-hand rule" for circular motion).

5. The cue ball struck the 4-ball, knocking it into the corner pocket. This problem vectors in figuring angles, velocities, momentum, etc.

I guess that's enough. There are lots of examples of both scalars and vectors.

Answer 2

Simple:

A scalar has a magnitude.

A vector has magnitude and direction, and it must obey parallelogram law (don't worry so much about that last one).

Answer 3

scalar, spell it right, a vector has magnitude and direction, a scalar just has magnitude