Vector quantities

Definition

Vector quantities have both magnitude and direction. Examples include displacement, velocity, and force.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Vectors are represented graphically by arrows, where the length represents the magnitude and the arrowhead indicates the direction.
2. Vectors can be added using the head-to-tail method or by breaking them into components and adding algebraically.
3. The resultant vector is found by combining two or more vectors.
4. Vectors can be multiplied by scalars to change their magnitude without affecting their direction.
5. The dot product of two vectors results in a scalar, while the cross product results in another vector.

Review Questions

• What are the two main characteristics that define a vector quantity?
• How do you find the resultant vector when adding two vectors graphically?
• Explain the difference between dot product and cross product of vectors.

Related terms

Scalar Quantities: Quantities that have only magnitude and no direction, such as mass, time, and temperature.

Resultant Vector: A single vector that has the same effect as a combination of two or more vectors.

Component Vectors: Projections of a vector along the axes of a coordinate system.