Scalar vs Vector Quantities Unit 1 Study Guide

Front

What is a scalar quantity?

Back

A scalar quantity is a physical quantity that has only magnitude and no direction, such as mass or temperature.

Front

What is a vector quantity?

Back

A vector quantity is a physical quantity that has both magnitude and direction, such as velocity or force.

Front

What is the main difference between scalar and vector quantities?

Back

The main difference is that scalar quantities have only magnitude, while vector quantities have both magnitude and direction.

Front

How is the direction of a vector quantity represented?

Back

The direction of a vector quantity is represented by an arrow pointing in the direction of the vector, and its length indicates the magnitude.

Front

Give an example of a physical situation where both scalar and vector quantities are involved.

Back

When a car travels 100 km (scalar: distance) to the east (vector: displacement), both scalar and vector quantities are involved.

Front

Can two vectors with the same magnitude have different directions?

Back

Yes, two vectors can have the same magnitude but point in different directions, making them different vectors.

Front

How do you add two vector quantities?

Back

To add two vectors, place them head to tail and draw a vector from the start of the first to the end of the second. This resultant vector represents their sum.

Front

What is the resultant of two perpendicular vectors of equal magnitude?

Back

The resultant is a vector whose magnitude is √2 times the magnitude of one vector, and its direction is at a 45° angle between the two original vectors.

Front

Is speed a scalar or a vector quantity? Explain.

Back

Speed is a scalar quantity because it only has magnitude (how fast something is moving) and does not include direction.

Front

What happens to the magnitude of the resultant when two vectors of equal magnitude are added at an angle less than 90°?

Back

The magnitude of the resultant will be greater than the magnitude of each vector but less than twice their magnitude. The exact value depends on the cosine of the angle between them.