Which term describes a physical quantity that has magnitude but no direction?

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

Answer: (B)

A physical quantity with only magnitude and no direction is a scalar. Scalars are fully described by a single number with a unit, like mass, temperature, time, or distance. They don’t require any orientation to specify their value.

In contrast, vector quantities have both magnitude and direction. That means you must give not only how much there is but also which way it points—examples include velocity, displacement, and force. The magnitude of a vector can be thought of as “how much,” while the direction tells you where it’s heading. That’s why only scalar quantities fit the description of having magnitude without direction.