What is an example of a scalar quantity?

A scalar quantity is defined as a physical quantity that has magnitude but no direction. Temperature is a classic example of a scalar quantity because it is expressed solely in terms of a numerical value (like degrees Celsius or Kelvin) and does not have any directional component associated with it.

In contrast, force, velocity, and acceleration are vector quantities. These quantities not only have magnitude, but they also have a specific direction in which they are acting. For example, force can be described as moving an object upward or downward; velocity has both speed and a direction (like 60 km/h to the north); and acceleration indicates how quickly an object is speeding up or slowing down in a particular direction. This distinction between scalars and vectors is fundamental in physics, emphasizing the role of direction in vector quantities that one would not find in scalars like temperature.