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Suvat vector versus the scalar form
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[QUOTE="Steve4Physics, post: 6833908, member: 681522"] Hi [USER=731821]@heroslayer99[/USER]. I’d like to add my tuppence worth... The quantities in the suvat equations (apart from time) represent vectors in one dimension - with the sign of each quantity giving its direction. Take vertical motion with the usual convention: up=positive, down=negative. Then, for example: u= 4m/s tells us that initial velocity is 4m/s upwards. a = -10m/s² tells us that acceleration is 10m/s² downwards. After 3s we calculate s = ut+½at² = 4·3+½(-10)·3² = -33m, i.e. the object is 33m below its start position. If you ignored the signs you would get s = 4·3+½(10)·3² = 57m, which is wrong. Ignoring the signs (treating all vector quantities as positive) will only work when all the vectors point in the same direction. ‘F=ma’ contains no addition or subtraction operations. [U]This guarantees that the vectors ‘F’ and ‘a’ always have the same direction.[/U] [/QUOTE]
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Suvat vector versus the scalar form
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