Scalar and Vector Quantities

Question 1

What is a vector?

Answer 1

A vector is a quantity that has direction as well as magnitude.

Question 2

What is a Scalar?

Answer 2

A scalar is any quantity that has a magnitude and is not directional.

Question 3

List examples of vectors:

Answer 3

Force, velocity, momentum, displacement, acceleration

Question 4

List examples of scalar:

Answer 4

Mass, time, temperature

Question 5

How is a vector represented?

Answer 5

V with an arrow showing direction and magnitude. when showing only magnitude the v is written in italics.

Question 6

What is displacement?

Answer 6

Distance in a given direction

Question 7

What is velocity?

Answer 7

Speed in a given direction

Question 8

When do we add vectors and when do we subtract?

Answer 8

We add vectors when they are going in the same direction. We subtract vectors when they are in opposing directions. Always add direction at the end of answer.

Question 9

How do we resolve components of vectors?

Answer 9

Using trigonometry.

Question 10

What are the most important equations to know in trigonometry?

Answer 10

SOHCAHTOA

Question 11

What is the equation to calculate the resultant force?

Answer 11

R = squareroot of ( f1 + f2)

Question 12

How is angle calculated?

Answer 12

tan-1(f1/f2) = θ tan-1(Vy/Vx)

Question 13

If the resultant F is given, how do you find the components?

Answer 13

Using Fcosθ for the adjacent/horizontal for y axis and Fsinθ for opposite/vertical the or x-axis

Question 14

What side of the triangle is the resultant force?

Answer 14

The resultant force is always the hypotenus

Question 15

How is the resultant vector for a none right angle triangle calculate?

Answer 15

We can turn it into a parallelogram and calculate it by figuring out the true length of the x axis.