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Bassel AbdulSabour
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What's the difference between magnitude and size? I mean, how can I say that AB vector has a magnitude of 9 Newton, and its length is 4 cm.
You are trying to distinguish between the magnitude of a vector and the size of its representation drawn on a piece of paper? In my lifetime I have never heard anyone refer to the "size" of a vector in such a manner. Scientists, engineers and mathematicians are normally concerned with the vector, not with its representation.Bassel AbdulSabour said:What's the difference between magnitude and size? I mean, how can I say that AB vector has a magnitude of 9 Newton, and its length is 4 cm.
I agree completely. The fact that the vector is drawn as one 4 cm. in length is immaterial -- its magnitude is 9 Nt.jbriggs444 said:You are trying to distinguish between the magnitude of a vector and the size of its representation drawn on a piece of paper? In my lifetime I have never heard anyone refer to the "size" of a vector in such a manner. Scientists, engineers and mathematicians are normally concerned with the vector, not with its representation.
Magnitude refers to the measurement of an object's strength or intensity, while size refers to the physical dimensions of an object.
Magnitude and size are often correlated, but they are not the same thing. For example, a large object may not necessarily have a high magnitude, and a small object may have a high magnitude.
One example is the difference between the magnitude and size of earthquakes. The magnitude of an earthquake is measured on the Richter scale, which is based on the strength of seismic waves. The size of an earthquake, on the other hand, is measured by its surface area or the amount of ground that is affected by the earthquake.
Understanding the difference between magnitude and size is crucial in many scientific fields, such as astronomy, geology, and physics. It allows scientists to accurately describe and measure various phenomena, such as the brightness of stars, the strength of earthquakes, and the size of particles.
Both magnitude and size are important in scientific research and have their own unique uses. It ultimately depends on the specific research being conducted and the parameters being measured. For some studies, magnitude may be more important, while for others, size may be the key factor. It is essential to understand and differentiate between the two concepts to accurately interpret and communicate scientific findings.