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    Scalars and Vectors

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    Opeyemi Afolabi
    Scalars have only magnitude, while vectors have both magnitude and direction. There are two types of vectors: polar vectors which have a starting point and act in the direction of motion, and axial vectors which do not change sign under coordinate reflections. Vector quantities are important because they can be applied to multi-dimensional systems considering both magnitude and direction, and help explain many physical laws. Scalars differ from vectors in that scalars do not include direction and are one-dimensional, while vectors are multidimensional and change with both magnitude and direction.

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    Scalars and Vectors

    Uploaded by

    Opeyemi Afolabi
    32 views1 page
    Scalars have only magnitude, while vectors have both magnitude and direction. There are two types of vectors: polar vectors which have a starting point and act in the direction of motion, and axial vectors which do not change sign under coordinate reflections. Vector quantities are important because they can be applied to multi-dimensional systems considering both magnitude and direction, and help explain many physical laws. Scalars differ from vectors in that scalars do not include direction and are one-dimensional, while vectors are multidimensional and change with both magnitude and direction.

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    Scalars have only magnitude, while vectors have both magnitude and direction. There are two types of vectors: polar vectors which have a starting point and act in the direction of motion, and axial vectors which do not change sign under coordinate reflections. Vector quantities are important because they can be applied to multi-dimensional systems considering both magnitude and direction, and help explain many physical laws. Scalars differ from vectors in that scalars do not include direction and are one-dimensional, while vectors are multidimensional and change with both magnitude and direction.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    32 views1 page

    Scalars and Vectors

    Uploaded by

    Opeyemi Afolabi
    Scalars have only magnitude, while vectors have both magnitude and direction. There are two types of vectors: polar vectors which have a starting point and act in the direction of motion, and axial vectors which do not change sign under coordinate reflections. Vector quantities are important because they can be applied to multi-dimensional systems considering both magnitude and direction, and help explain many physical laws. Scalars differ from vectors in that scalars do not include direction and are one-dimensional, while vectors are multidimensional and change with both magnitude and direction.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    of 1

    Scalars and Vectors

    The concept of scalars

    A scalar quantity has magnitude only. It is attached to a unit of measurement such as degrees or metres.
    Examples are: mass, length, speed, distance, temperature, pressure etc.

    The concept of vectors

    A vector quantity is one which has both direction as well as magnitude. Examples are: displacement,
    velocity, acceleration, force, etc. A vector quantity is written with an arrow head over its symbol like A

    Types of vectors

    Vectors can be divided into two types:

    1. Polar Vector: This is a vector which has a starting point and acts along the direction of motion of
    body. Examples are displacement, force, velocity etc.
    2. Axial Vector: An axial vector is the one that does not reverse its sign when the coordinate
    system is changed to new system by a reflection in the origin. An example of an axial vector is
    the vector product of two polar vectors, such as L = r x p. where L is the angular momentum of a
    particle, r is its position vector, and p is its momentum vector.

    Importance of vector quantities

    1. Vector quantities can be applied into a multi-dimensional system because it considers both
    magnitude and direction.
    2. The study of vectors eases understanding of the existence of many laws in physics.

    Differences between scalar and vector quantities

    Scalar Quantity Vector Quantity


    1. It does not include direction 1. It has both magnitude and direction
    2. It includes only one - dimensional 2. It includes multidimensional quantity
    quantity
    3. It changes with the change in 3 It changes with the change in in its
    magnitude direction or magnitude or both
    4. Scalar quantity can divide another 4 Two vector quantities can never
    scalar quantity divide

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