scalars and vectors Flashcards
What is a scalar quantity?
A scalar quantity is a physical quantity that has magnitude only and no direction.
What is a vector quantity?
A vector quantity is a physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
True or False: Speed is a scalar quantity.
True
True or False: Velocity is a vector quantity.
True
Fill in the blank: The formula for calculating distance is __________.
Distance = Speed × Time
What is the difference between distance and displacement?
Distance is a scalar quantity representing the total path length, while displacement is a vector quantity representing the shortest path between two points.
What is the unit of measurement for vectors in physics?
The unit of measurement for vectors can vary, but common units include meters (m) for displacement, meters per second (m/s) for velocity, and newtons (N) for force.
What is the resultant vector?
The resultant vector is the vector sum of two or more vectors.
In vector addition, what is the head-to-tail method?
The head-to-tail method involves placing the tail of one vector at the head of another to determine the resultant vector.
True or False: When adding vectors, their magnitudes must be the same.
False
What does it mean to resolve a vector?
To resolve a vector means to break it down into its components, typically along the x and y axes.
What is the Pythagorean theorem used for in vector analysis?
The Pythagorean theorem is used to calculate the magnitude of a resultant vector from its perpendicular components.
Fill in the blank: The formula for finding the magnitude of a resultant vector R from components Ax and Ay is __________.
R = √(Ax² + Ay²)
What direction does a vector pointing east represent?
A vector pointing east represents motion or force directed towards the east.
True or False: All scalar quantities can be represented as a vector.
False