i don't understand whether the time is a scalar or vectoral magnitude. if we can say it is vectoral, why do we get a scalar magnitude when we divide the distance (not displacement) by the time?

You are seeing time according to classical physics. If we see time according to the theory of relativity time is vector whose direction is towards future.

Is Force a scalar or a vector quantity ?

I think Force should be a vector, since it possess both a scalar and a direction.

The answer choices in problem one confuse me. Why isn't the length of the distance between the points (0,0) and (2,7) considered a vector? Is it required to be a line of some sort in order to be a vector?

Vectors need both a magnitude (distance) and direction. If you just know the length, you have the magnitude but no direction. The answer options 2 and 4 tell you where to start from, so they give both the distance and direction. Hope this helps.

is there a tip or something that can help you know about if its a vector or not

The definition of a vector contains tips. If it has a *direction* AND *magnitude/ size*, then it is a VECTOR.

it was tricky , I clearly understood that vectors have sizes and specified directions. so I wanted to test myself for this particular test so I chose A and B because in answer A we have the distance between two objects and on the pool table which I counted as a direction based on what I learnt in the English language that to tell on the right or on the left or above etc . also,I used the same logical thinking to answer B for C it was obvious that it didn't make and sense.however, for D it states only the movement of the airplane but not at any directions did the airplane moved to the left or to the right or was it landing gradually so I didn't count it as a correct version of answer thank you for your help and support I mere want to comment

Well, the airplane is assumed to have a direction and a velocity/acceleration (or some value of interest that can be associated with its direction) so it meets the criterion for a vector. It doesn't matter which way it is moving or if it is landing or taking off.

Why is electric current scalar when it has a direction?

This might be complicated for you *IF* you have not yet learnt vector laws. But anyway, there is a law called the Parallelogram Law Of Vectors . If a quantity obeys this rule and the other rules for vectors, it will be considered a vector quantity. But electric current was tested and it did not obey this rule. So, even if it had a magnitude and direction, it was not considered a vector.

How can the movement of an aeroplane be considered as a vector?

The movement of an airplane can be considered a vector, because an airplane always has a speed (or magnitude) and has a movement (or direction). Technically all real world movements can be considered a vector, because a force is always applied (the magnitude {2N for example}) and movement always results in a change of location (which is always in a direction {the left for example})

I am unable to understand unit vectors. Please help.

A unit vector is a vector whose magnitude is 1, and is used for defining directions. Since it is a vector, it has both direction and magnitude. Now if its magnitude is 1, we can use it for defining the direction of other vectors. They tell whether the vector is along the x-axis or y-axis or z-axis. Hope that helps...

Main content

Recognizing vectors practice

Google Classroom

Try two questions that make sure you understand that vectors have magnitude and direction.

Problem 1

Which of the following can represent a vector?

(Choice A)
A line segment beginning at $(0, 0)$ ‍ and ending at $(2, 7)$ ‍
(Choice B)
The length of the distance between the points $(2, 7)$ ‍ and $(0, 0)$ ‍
(Choice C)
A line segment beginning at $(2, 7)$ ‍ and ending at $(0, 0)$ ‍
(Choice D)
The length of the distance between the points $(0, 0)$ ‍ and $(2, 7)$ ‍

A vector is a quantity that can be described as having both magnitude and direction.

The length of the distance between any two points is a magnitude with no direction, so it can't represent a vector.

A line segment beginning at a certain point and ending at another can represent a vector. The magnitude of the vector is the distance between the points, and its direction is the direction from the initial point to the terminal point.

The following can represent a vector:

A line segment beginning at $(0, 0)$ ‍ and ending at $(2, 7)$ ‍
A line segment beginning at $(2, 7)$ ‍ and ending at $(0, 0)$ ‍

Problem 2

Which of the following can be modeled by a vector?

(Choice A)
The movement of an airplane
(Choice B)
The length of the distance between a table at a restaurant and the kitchen
(Choice C)
An order in a restaurant where four people ordered two items each
(Choice D)
The length of the distance between the white ball and the black ball on a pool table

A quantity can be modeled by a vector if it can be described as having both magnitude and direction.

The movement of an airplane can be modeled as a vector. The magnitude of the vector is the speed of the airplane, and its direction is the direction of the airplane.

The length of the distance between the white ball and the black ball on a pool table is a magnitude without any direction, so it can't be modeled by a vector.

For the same reason mentioned above, the length of the distance between a table at a restaurant and the kitchen is a magnitude without any direction, so it can't be modeled by a vector.

An order in a restaurant where four people ordered two items each doesn't have a clear magnitude, and it definitely doesn't have a direction. So, it can't be modeled by a vector.

Only the movement of an airplane can be modeled by a vector.

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Ahmet Burak Kaya
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Ahmet Burak Kaya's post “i don't understand whethe...”
i don't understand whether the time is a scalar or vectoral magnitude. if we can say it is vectoral, why do we get a scalar magnitude when we divide the distance (not displacement) by the time?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Ahmet Burak Kaya's post “i don't understand whethe...”
(18 votes)
Answer
- Auro soni
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Auro soni's post “You are seeing time accor...”
  You are seeing time according to classical physics. If we see time according to the theory of relativity time is vector whose direction is towards future.
  Comment on Auro soni's post “You are seeing time accor...”
  (6 votes)
Muhammad Ashhar
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Muhammad Ashhar's post “Is Force a scalar or a ve...”
Is Force a scalar or a vector quantity ?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Muhammad Ashhar's post “Is Force a scalar or a ve...”
(8 votes)
Answer
- Thien D Ho
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Thien D Ho's post “I think Force should be a...”
  I think Force should be a vector, since it possess both a scalar and a direction.
  Comment on Thien D Ho's post “I think Force should be a...”
  (15 votes)
Snigdha Kosuri
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Snigdha Kosuri's post “The answer choices in pro...”
The answer choices in problem one confuse me. Why isn't the length of the distance between the points (0,0) and (2,7) considered a vector? Is it required to be a line of some sort in order to be a vector?
Button navigates to signup pageComment on Snigdha Kosuri's post “The answer choices in pro...”
(5 votes)
Answer
- Kim Seidel
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Kim Seidel's post “Vectors need both a magni...”
  Vectors need both a magnitude (distance) and direction.
  If you just know the length, you have the magnitude but no direction. The answer options 2 and 4 tell you where to start from, so they give both the distance and direction.
  Hope this helps.
  Comment on Kim Seidel's post “Vectors need both a magni...”
  (11 votes)
Emma Pan
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Emma Pan's post “is there a tip or somethi...”
is there a tip or something that can help you know about if its a vector or not
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(4 votes)
Answer
- Anzhelika Masiuk
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to Anzhelika Masiuk's post “The definition of a vecto...”
  The definition of a vector contains tips. If it has a direction AND magnitude/ size, then it is a VECTOR.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (8 votes)
myviolist
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to myviolist's post “it was tricky , I clearly...”
it was tricky , I clearly understood that vectors have sizes and specified directions. so I wanted to test myself for this particular test so I chose A and B because in answer A we have the distance between two objects and on the pool table which I counted as a direction based on what I learnt in the English language that to tell on the right or on the left or
above etc . also,I used the same logical thinking to answer B

for C it was obvious that it didn't make and sense.however, for D it states only the movement of the airplane but not at any directions did the airplane moved to the left or to the right or was it landing gradually so I didn't count it as a correct version of answer

thank you for your help and support I mere want to comment
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(4 votes)
Answer
- CCDM
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to CCDM's post “Well, the airplane is ass...”
  Well, the airplane is assumed to have a direction and a velocity/acceleration (or some value of interest that can be associated with its direction) so it meets the criterion for a vector. It doesn't matter which way it is moving or if it is landing or taking off.
  Button navigates to signup page
  (3 votes)
ammarah0603
Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to ammarah0603's post “Why is electric current s...”
Why is electric current scalar when it has a direction?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(3 votes)
Answer
- zygoat
  Posted 8 years ago. Direct link to zygoat's post “This might be complicated...”
  This might be complicated for you IF you have not yet learnt vector laws. But anyway, there is a law called the Parallelogram Law Of Vectors . If a quantity obeys this rule and the other rules for vectors, it will be considered a vector quantity. But electric current was tested and it did not obey this rule. So, even if it had a magnitude and direction, it was not considered a vector.
  Comment on zygoat's post “This might be complicated...”
  (5 votes)
deepti varshney
Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to deepti varshney's post “How can the movement of a...”
How can the movement of an aeroplane be considered as a vector?
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(2 votes)
Answer
- ∏
  Posted 5 years ago. Direct link to ∏'s post “The movement of an airpla...”
  The movement of an airplane can be considered a vector, because an airplane always has a speed (or magnitude) and has a movement (or direction). Technically all real world movements can be considered a vector, because a force is always applied (the magnitude {2N for example}) and movement always results in a change of location (which is always in a direction {the left for example})
  Button navigates to signup page
  (3 votes)
Don Vaskie
Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to Don Vaskie's post “why isn't the length of t...”
why isn't the length of the distance between the black ball and white ball a vector. the length is from the black ball to the white ball and the direction is from the black ball to the white ball.
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(3 votes)
Answer
- loumast17
  Posted 4 years ago. Direct link to loumast17's post “length is not a vector, l...”
  length is not a vector, length is just a distance. if you add the information of the direction it is no longer just length. In the case of the two points it is then the line segment, but more generally you could think of it as displacement
  Button navigates to signup page
  (1 vote)
Arindam Bandi
Posted 7 years ago. Direct link to Arindam Bandi's post “I am unable to understand...”
I am unable to understand unit vectors. Please help.
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(1 vote)
Answer
- Priyanshi
  Posted a year ago. Direct link to Priyanshi's post “A unit vector is a vector...”
  A unit vector is a vector whose magnitude is 1, and is used for defining directions. Since it is a vector, it has both direction and magnitude. Now if its magnitude is 1, we can use it for defining the direction of other vectors. They tell whether the vector is along the x-axis or y-axis or z-axis. Hope that helps...
  Button navigates to signup page
  (3 votes)
Chris Saunders
Posted 4 months ago. Direct link to Chris Saunders's post “The previous video litera...”
The previous video literally says a point 5,5 can be a vector if it's tail is from the origin.
So one of these is wrong.
Button navigates to signup pageButton navigates to signup page
(2 votes)
Answer

Precalculus (Eureka Math/EngageNY)

Course: Precalculus (Eureka Math/EngageNY) > Unit 2

Problem 1

Problem 2

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