Vector & Scalar: A Detailed Overview

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on the definitions and distinctions between vectors and scalars, exploring their characteristics, examples, and the challenges some participants face in understanding these concepts. The scope includes conceptual clarification and informal explanations.

Discussion Character

  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants assert that a vector has direction while a scalar does not, describing this distinction as straightforward.
  • One participant expresses difficulty in finding the right terms to search for information online, indicating a challenge in accessing resources.
  • Another participant provides an artistic analogy, explaining that while everything has magnitude (e.g., a 50kg bag of sand), not all quantities have direction, contrasting scalars and vectors.
  • Participants provide examples of vectors, such as velocity and acceleration, which involve direction, and scalars, such as length and temperature, which do not.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree on the basic definitions of vectors and scalars, but there is some contention regarding the accessibility of information and the appropriateness of using informal language in the discussion.

Contextual Notes

Some participants express frustration with the difficulty of formulating questions, which may indicate a lack of familiarity with scientific terminology. The discussion also reflects varying levels of comfort with formal language.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be useful for individuals seeking to understand the fundamental differences between vectors and scalars, particularly those new to scientific concepts or terminology.

talibji786
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Can u describe VECTOR and SCALAR in detail with example
 
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A vector has direction, a scalar does not. It's that simple.

And by the way, for really simple questions like this, Google is a great resource. Try Googling "what is a vector" and "what is a scalar".
 
Actually I am the students of arts but I love science and on google i face difficulty in asking question
 
talibji786 said:
Actually I am the students of arts but I love science and on google i face difficulty in asking question
OK, I can certainly understand that if you are not sure of the scientific term you want, it can be hard, but when you want to know what a vector is, how hard is it to type "what is a vector"?
 
hmmm u r ryt
 
talibji786 said:
hmmm u r ryt
Good.

And just for your future reference, "text-speak" is strongly discouraged here. We type everything out even though it can seem like a pain when you are used to text-speak.
 
in simple 'Artistic' ways, Everything in life has an amount/magnitude, a bag of sand of 50kg is an example of an amount. however not everything in life has a direction. The 50kg sand bag does not have a direction where it could potentially go, that's non existent. However a push or a pull for example have a direction, you cannot have a push with just the magnitude you have to say what you are pushing towards, in certain quantities of life direction is as important as the amount. We call these scalar (no direction) and Vector (with direction).
 
thnx 2 much bernard
 
What is direction of vector. Define direction of vector
 
  • #10
vector - quantities with direction i.e + or - or many directions. For example, velocity (rate and direction of travel ), acceleration (rate and speeding up or slowing down)
scalar - quantities without direction. For example, length, temperature, where direction does not make sense to those measures.
 
  • #11
Thank u all
 

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