Scalars & Vectors

Question 1

What is a scalar quantity?

Answer 1

A scalar quantity is a physical quantity that has only magnitude (size) and no direction. Examples include mass, temperature, and time.

Question 2

What is a vector quantity?

Answer 2

A vector quantity is a physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction. Examples include force, velocity, and displacement.

Question 3

Give three examples of scalar quantities.

Answer 3

Examples of scalar quantities are mass, time, and energy

Question 4

Give three examples of vector quantities.

Answer 4

Examples of vector quantities are force, velocity, and acceleration.

Question 5

What is relative velocity?

Answer 5

Relative velocity is the velocity of one object as observed from another moving object. It is the difference between their velocities.

Question 6

How do you determine the resultant of two or more vectors?

Answer 6

The resultant vector can be found by adding the individual vectors, either using the parallelogram method, triangle method, or by resolving them into components and then combining those components.

Question 7

What is the method for determining relative velocity?

Answer 7

Relative velocity is determined by subtracting the velocity of one object from the velocity of the other.

Question 8

How can you resolve a vector into two perpendicular components?

Answer 8

By using trigonometry, specifically the sine and cosine of the angle the vector makes with the axes.