VectorsSCALAR AND VECTOR QUANTITIESRev. 0Page 1CP-02Figure 1 Vector Reference AxisSCALAR AND VECTOR QUANTITIESScalars are quantities that have magnitude only; they are independent of direction.Vectors have both magnitude and direction. The length of a vector representsmagnitude. The arrow shows direction.EO 1.1DEFINE the following as they relate to vectors:a.Scalar quantityb.Vector quantityScalarQuantitiesMost of the physical quantities encountered in physics are either scalar or vector quantities. Ascalarquantity is defined as a quantity that has magnitude only. Typical examples of scalarquantities are time, speed, temperature, and volume. A scalar quantity or parameter has nodirectional 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 ofscalar quantities are density, mass, and energy.VectorQuantitiesA vector quantity is defined as a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. To work withvector quantities, one must know the method for representing these quantities.Magnitude, or "size" of a vector, is alsoreferred to as the vector's "displacement." Itcan be thought of as the scalar portion of thevector and is represented by the length of thevector. By definition, a vector has bothmagnitude and direction. Direction indicateshow the vector is oriented relative to somereference axis, as shown in Figure 1.Using north/south and east/west referenceaxes, vector "A" is oriented in the NEquadrant with a direction of 45 north of theoEW axis. G iving direction to scalar "A"makes it a vector. The length of "A" isrepresentative of its magnitude ordisplacement.
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