Vectors and Scalars

Front

Scalar Noun

---

[skay-ler]

Back

Scalar

---

A physical quantity that is fully described by a magnitude or numerical value alone, without any associated direction.

---

Example: A car's speedometer shows its speed, which is a scalar quantity because it only measures magnitude (how fast) and not the direction of travel.

Front

Vector Noun

---

[vek-ter]

Back

Vector

---

A physical quantity that is described by both a magnitude, indicating its size, and a specific direction in space.

---

Example: This diagram shows that a vector, like the force (F) being applied to the box, has both a magnitude (the arrow's length) and a direction.

Front

Magnitude Noun

---

[mag-ni-tood]

Back

Magnitude

---

The size or numerical value of a physical quantity, which is typically expressed with a number and appropriate units.

---

Example: This image shows speedometers, where the number the needle points to is the magnitude, or size, of the speed, like 40 or 65.

Front

Resultant Noun

---

[ri-zuhl-tnt]

Back

Resultant

---

The single vector that represents the sum of two or more vectors and produces the same overall effect.

---

Example: This image shows how to find the resultant force by combining forces. When forces act in the same direction, they add up; when in opposite directions, they subtract.

Front

Equilibrant Noun

---

[ee-kwuh-lib-runt]

Back

Equilibrant

---

A single vector that has the same magnitude as the resultant vector but acts in the exact opposite direction.

---

Example: The downward force vector (E), the equilibrant, is a single force that has the same size but opposite direction as the combined upward forces (resultant R).

Front

Displacement Noun

---

[dis-pleys-muhnt]

Back

Displacement

---

A vector quantity representing the shortest distance and direction from an object's initial position to its final position.

---

Example: A person moves from a starting point to an ending point; their displacement is the straight-line change in position, including direction (+2.0 m).

Front

Velocity Noun

---

[vuh-los-i-tee]

Back

Velocity

---

A vector quantity representing the rate of change of an object's displacement, indicating its speed in a specific direction.

---

Example: This diagram shows that velocity is not just speed, but also includes direction, by contrasting the winding path taken with the straight-line path from start to finish.

Front

Acceleration Noun

---

[ak-sel-uh-rey-shuhn]

Back

Acceleration

---

A vector quantity that represents the rate at which an object's velocity changes with respect to time.

---

Example: This image shows that acceleration, a vector quantity, is any change in velocity. This includes speeding up, slowing down, or changing direction.

Front

Force Noun

---

[fohrs]

Back

Force

---

A vector quantity representing an interaction, such as a push or a pull, that can change an object's motion.

---

Example: A person pushes a box, applying a force. The arrow shows the direction of the push, illustrating that force is a vector quantity.

Front

Weight Noun

---

[weyt]

Back

Weight

---

A vector quantity that measures the gravitational force exerted on an object's mass, typically directed towards a planet's center.

---

Example: A person's weight is the force of gravity pulling them down, which is what a bathroom scale measures. This image is an ad, not an educational diagram.