0
Scalar Quantities
Most of the physical quantities encountered in physics are either scalar or vector quantities. A scalar quantity is defined as a quantity that has magnitude only. Typical examples of scalar quantities are time, speed, temperature, and volume. A scalar quantity or parameter has no directional component, only magnitude. For example, the units for time (minutes, days, hours, etc.) represent an amount of time only and tell nothing of direction. Additional examples of scalar quantities are density, mass, and energy.
Vector Quantities
A vectorquantity is defined as a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. To work with vector quantities, one must know the method for representing these quantities. Magnitude, or "size" of a vector, is also referred to as the vector's "displacement." It can be thought of as the scalar portion of the vector and is represented by the length of the vector. By definition, a vector has both magnitude and direction. Direction indicates how the vector is oriented relative to some reference axis, as shown in Figure 1. Using north/south and east/west reference axes, vector "A" is oriented in the NE quadrant with a direction of 45 north of the o EW axis. G iving direction to scalar "A" makes it a vector. The length of "A" is representative of its magnitude or displacement.
Another Answer
A scalar quantity refers only to the magnitude of the quantity and answers the question how much. Ex. height, weight, volume, and the like. 2 lbs of sugar is scalar, 4 m long is scalar
A vector quantity refers to both magnitude and direction and answers how much and where is it going, (in that sense)
Ex. forces, velocity. 200 km/hr at N30degE is a vector, the force required to push a drum up or down a ramp is a vector, the force exerted by the cue stick in billiards is a vector a scalar is a number, like a distance... like the moon is 300.000km away from earth.
a vector is a number AND a direction. It's like "moving east at 100km/h"
while "moving at 100km/h" alone is a scalar.
The idea is that a scalar has only ONE dimension, while a vector has several.
Still curious? Ask our experts.
Chat with our AI personalities
Beau
Lao
JordanAdd your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Is it possible to add a scalar to a vector?
It is not possible the addition of scalars as well as vectors because vector quantities are magnitude as well as direction and scalar quantities are the only magnitude; they have no directions at all. Addition is possible between scalar to scalar and vector to vector. Under some circumstances, you may be able to treat scalar quantities as being along some previously undefined dimension of a vector quantity, and add them that way. For example, you can treat time as a vector along the t-axis and add it to an xyz position vector in 3-space to come up with a four-dimensional spacetime vector.
What do you mean by vectare Quantity give example?
A vector quantity refers to a physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction. Some examples of vector quantities include velocity (speed and direction), force (magnitude and direction), and displacement (distance and direction).
What are the Examples of null vector?
The null vector, also called the zero vector, is a vector a, such that a+b=b for any vector b. Also, b+( -b)=a An example in R3 is the vector <0,0,0> Here are some examples of its use <2,2,2>+<-2,-2,-2>=<0,0,0> <2,2,2>+<0,0,0>=<2,2,2>
What is a vector measurement?
A measurement that has magnitude and direction. The magnitude is equal to the absolute value of the vector measurement. For example, Velocity is a vector measurement. A velocity of -20 miles per 1 second would suggest moving away from the origin point in a two-dimensional measurement at a rate of 20 miles per 1 second. The absolute value of this would be 20 miles per 1 second, which would also be the speed. Therefore, speed is the magnitude of Velocity. Subsequently, any measurement that has a magnitude, but no direction, is not a Vector measurement, but rather a scalar measurement. Some examples of vector measurements would be Displacement, Velocity, and Acceleration.
What is vector system?
Vector systems are a branch of mathematics that is used to manipulate measurements that have a value as well as a direction. Common examples are velocity, acceleration, force, etc - measurements involving motion. However, some motion-related measurements are not vectors. Distance, speed are not.
