Does Metre Affect Vector Outcome in Calculation?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on whether the presence of the meter in a calculation indicates that the outcome is a vector quantity. It is clarified that a meter measures distance, which is a scalar quantity, and does not inherently imply a vector outcome. While displacement, which is a vector, also uses meters as its unit, the unit itself does not determine the nature of the quantity. The conversation suggests a possible confusion with unit vectors in Cartesian coordinates. Ultimately, the distinction between scalar and vector quantities is based on directionality, not solely on the units used.
Googl
Messages
111
Reaction score
1
Does having metre in a calculation make the outcome a vector quantity.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I don't think so. A meter is simply distance, it does not have a direction.
 
I remember reading somewhere for a unit explanation, but just can't find it again that "since metre is involved the unit is a vector quantity"
 
Googl said:
I remember reading somewhere for a unit explanation, but just can't find it again that "since metre is involved the unit is a vector quantity"

Distance is a scalar quantity though and has the metre as its SI unit, displacement also has metres as its unit but is a vector. The unit isn't relevant to whether something is a vector or not as the absolute value of the vector will be a scalar of the same units.

I think you might be getting mixed up with unit vectors perhaps? I.e. i j and k in Cartesian coordinates.
 

Thread 'Need help understanding particle physics and quantum physics'

So I know that electrons are fundamental, there's no 'material' that makes them up, it's like talking about a colour itself rather than a car or a flower. Now protons and neutrons and quarks and whatever other stuff is there fundamentally, I want someone to kind of teach me these, I have a lot of questions that books might not give the answer in the way I understand. Thanks
View full post »

Similar threads

I Perceived Height and actual height
Replies
21
Views
4K
B Why can't one metre be more than one metre?
Replies
4
Views
1K
I Is the position vector a real vector?
Replies
8
Views
3K
B Why Use Dot Product vs. Cross Product for Vector Calculations?
Replies
3
Views
1K
I 3D coordinates vector calculation
Replies
4
Views
1K
B Energy transfer water > air in a greenhouse
Replies
5
Views
205
B Representing Vectors: Calculating Force & Angle
Replies
1
Views
1K
Clarify power calculation
Replies
12
Views
1K
Physical meaning of a Metre-Second? [or (Kg · s) or (N · s) ]
Replies
5
Views
4K
Probability of the outcomes of ##J^2## and ##J_{z}##?
Replies
4
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top