In short
A scalar has only magnitude (e.g. mass, speed, temperature); a vector has both magnitude and direction (e.g. velocity, force, displacement).
Scalar vs Vector — Comparison Table
| Basis | Scalar | Vector |
|---|---|---|
| Magnitude | Yes | Yes |
| Direction | No | Yes |
| Addition | Ordinary algebra | Vector (triangle/parallelogram) law |
| Examples | Mass, speed, time, energy | Velocity, force, displacement, acceleration |
Want to understand this fully? Read the Physics notes on this chapter.