The main difference between a vector and a scalar quantity is that a vector quantity has both magnitude and direction, whereas a scalar quantity has only magnitude and no direction.

Explanation

• Vector Quantity: It includes a numerical magnitude and a specific direction. Examples include displacement, force, velocity, and acceleration. The direction is an essential part of the measurement, and vectors are often represented with arrows indicating the direction.

• Scalar Quantity: It involves only a magnitude with no directional information. Examples include mass, speed, temperature, and time. Scalar quantities are represented by just numbers with units, without any associated direction.

This distinction is fundamental in physics, as vectors provide more detailed information about physical phenomena by encoding direction, while scalars provide simpler measurements.