Physics Concepts Quiz

Which of the following is a scalar quantity?

• Force

• Temperature

• Displacement

Which of the following is a vector quantity?

• Volume

• Time

• Momentum

What is the difference between a scalar and a vector quantity?

• A scalar has only magnitude while a vector has both magnitude and direction.

• A scalar has both magnitude and direction while a vector has only magnitude.

• A scalar has neither magnitude nor direction while a vector has both.

How are vectors commonly represented?

• By a simple scale

• By an arrow for magnitude and an angle for direction

• By a space diagram

How can the total effect of multiple forces acting on a body be determined?

• By scalar addition

• By vector subtraction

• By vector addition

When are forces said to be coplanar?

• When they are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

• When they have mutually perpendicular components.

• When their line of action is in the same plane.

What is required to completely describe the magnitude and direction of a vector quantity?

• Two mutually perpendicular components

• Three mutually perpendicular components

• Four mutually perpendicular components

What is a couple?

• Two forces that are equal in magnitude and opposite in direction.

• Two forces that act along a common line of action.

• Two equal but opposite forces that are not coincident and create a rotation.

What is the moment of a couple?

• The distance between two forces acting along a common line of action.

• The magnitude of one of the forces in the couple.

• The magnitude of the force multiplied by the distance between them.

When is an object said to be in rotational equilibrium?

• When the object is in translational equilibrium.

• When two equal but opposite forces are present and act along a common line of action.

• When the vector sum of three forces is zero and their lines of action pass through a common point.