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Why is it important to know the difference between vectors and scalar?
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Scalar quantity is the usual one. It is already there unavoidable. But vector is the new one. Why do we need it?
Suppose say two persons by name John and Johann push a box with forces 4N and 3N, what could be the effective force on the box?
One may say 7 N by adding them. One may say just 1N because of getting the difference. Another may say 5N. How?
Why do they give different answers?
It is because the directions in which the forces acting are considered in different ways.
If both in the same, addition is ok. If in opposite then difference is right one. If they are at right angles then pythagros technique. So direction is the most essential data to get the right answer.
Hence magnitude with direction is known to be vector quantity.
Wiki User
∙ 11y ago
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoFailure to know the difference between vectors and scalars means failure to properly describe nature and natures laws. The product of two vectors is not the same as the product of two scalars. If you do not know the diference between vectors and scalars, your calculations will be wrong and possibly disastrous.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIt important because you should do your home work
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What is the difference between scalars and vectors using displacement and distance?
A scalar is a real quantity like distance and a vector is a vector quantity like displacement.Displacement is the product of a distance and a direction,Displacement =DistancexDirection.
Do vectors have a direction?
Yes, vectors must have the direction. Without direction, it is simply a scalar quantity.
What is the difference between scalar and vector drives?
a vector drive is vertical, a scalar is horizontal.
Why does the work is scalar quantity?
Work is the product of a force and a displacement. Both of those are vectors. There are two ways to multiply vectors. One of them produces another vector, the other produces a scalar. The calculation for 'work' uses the scalar product. The procedure is: (magnitude of one vector) times (magnitude of the other vector) times (cosine of the angle between them).
What is the difference between magnetic vector potential and magnetic scalar potential?
A vector is a quantity with both magnitude (strength) and direction. Like a force having a strength in pounds and a direction. Or a wind having magnitude (in mph) and direction (Northeast). A scalar has only magnitude. Like the length of a segment or amount of peanuts in a jar. Scalars are just numbers.
Why is scalar product two vectors a scalar?
Scalar product of two vectors is a scalar as it involves only the magnitude of the two vectors multiplied by the cosine of the angle between the vectors.
What is the difference between a scalar quantity and a vector?
Scalars are quantities that have magnitude only; they are independent of direction. Vectors have both magnitude and direction. vectors need bold letters to show them.
Can the sum of two vectors be a scalar?
No.
What is the difference between coplanar vectors and collinear vectors?
The term collinear is used to describe vectors which are scalar multiples of one another (they are parallel; can have different magnitudes in the same or opposite direction). The term coplanar is used to describe vectors in at least 3-space. Coplanar vectors are three or more vectors that lie in the same plane (any 2-D flat surface).
What is the product of vector and scalar?
The scalar product of two perpendicular vectors is zero.In classical mechanics we define the scalar product between two vector a and b as:a · b = |a| |b| cos(alpha)where |a| is the modulus of vector a and alpha is the angle between vectors a and b.If two vectors are perpendicular, alpha equals 90º (or PI/2 rad) and cosine of alpha is, consequently, zero.So finally a · b = 0.
What is the difference between scalene and scalar triangles?
there is no difference
What is the value of scalar product of two vectors A and B where value of vector A and B is not zero and vector product of two vectors A and B is not zero?
Scalar product = (magnitude of 'A') times (magnitude of 'B') times (cosine of the angle between 'A' and 'B')
Explain the difference between scalars and vectors?
A scalar is simply a real number (sometimes complex numbers are used). A vector has both a magnitude (a number), and a direction. Examples: Mass is a scalar; a force is a vector (you may get different results if you pull in different directions).
Is it scalar or vector when a car stops at a stop sign?
It is neither a scalar or a vector? Scalar and vectors are used to describe quantities, for example scalars include distance and mass, while vectors include weight and velocity. We do not say that a situation is a scalar or a vector.
Can sum of two vectors be numeric?
No, the sum of two vectors cannot be a scalar.
What is the difference between scalars and vectors using displacement and distance?
A scalar is a real quantity like distance and a vector is a vector quantity like displacement.Displacement is the product of a distance and a direction,Displacement =DistancexDirection.
How do you represent the 1000000 in vectors?
1000000 is a number and therefore it is a scalar. A scalar cannot be represented as a vector.
