All Flashcards
Define a scalar quantity.
A scalar quantity has only magnitude (size). It is a number with a unit.
Define a vector quantity.
A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.
What is 'distance'?
Distance is a scalar quantity representing how far something has traveled in total.
What is 'displacement'?
Displacement is a vector quantity representing how far something is from its starting point, with a direction.
Define 'speed'.
Speed is a scalar quantity that measures how fast something is moving.
Define 'velocity'.
Velocity is a vector quantity that measures how fast something is moving in a specific direction.
What is a unit vector?
A unit vector is a vector with a magnitude of 1, used to represent direction (e.g., , , ).
What is the key difference between scalars and vectors?
Scalars have only magnitude, while vectors have both magnitude and direction.
Compare distance and displacement.
Distance: Scalar, total path length. Displacement: Vector, change in position from start to end.
Compare speed and velocity.
Speed: Scalar, rate of motion. Velocity: Vector, rate of motion with direction.
Differentiate between mass and weight.
Mass: Scalar, amount of matter in an object. Weight: Vector, force of gravity on an object.
Compare using vector notation in 1D vs 2D.
1D: +/- signs indicate direction. 2D: Use components or magnitude and angle.
What is the effect of adding vectors without considering direction?
Incorrect results in physics calculations, especially when analyzing motion or forces.
What is the effect of using unit vectors in vector algebra?
Simplifies calculations and allows for easy conversion between different notations.
What is the effect of applying a force at an angle?
The force must be resolved into components to analyze its effect on motion in different directions.
What is the effect of a changing velocity vector?
It results in acceleration, which can change the object's speed, direction, or both.