Chapter 1: Problem 10
Which of the following quantities is NOT a vector? A. Velocity B. Force C. Displacement D. Distance
Short Answer
Expert verified
Distance is NOT a vector.
Step by step solution
01
- Define Vectors
Understand what vectors are. Vectors are quantities that have both magnitude and direction. Examples include velocity, force, and displacement.
02
- Evaluate Each Option
Check each given quantity to see if it has both magnitude and direction.
03
- Velocity
Velocity is defined as speed in a specific direction. Since it has both magnitude (speed) and direction, it is a vector.
04
- Force
Force is a push or pull acting upon an object in a specific direction. Since it has both a magnitude (strength) and direction, it is a vector.
05
- Displacement
Displacement describes the change in position of an object and includes both the distance and direction from the starting to ending point. Therefore, it is a vector.
06
- Distance
Distance only represents how much ground an object has covered regardless of direction. It has only magnitude, not direction, hence it is not a vector.
07
- Identify Non-Vector Quantity
Based on the definitions and evaluations, identify the quantity among the given options that is not a vector.
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Velocity
Velocity is a key concept in physics that describes how fast something is moving in a specific direction. It is different from speed, which only tells us how fast something is moving. For example, if a car is traveling east at 60 km/h, its velocity is 60 km/h east. This specific direction makes velocity a vector quantity.
Force
Force is another essential concept in physics. A force is any push or pull acting on an object, and it always happens in a specific direction. Types of forces include gravity, friction, and tension. For example, if you push a box to the right, you are applying a force to the right on that box. Because force includes both the magnitude of the push or pull and its direction, it is classified as a vector quantity.
Displacement
Displacement describes the change in position of an object. Unlike distance, displacement takes direction into account. For instance, if you walk 3 meters north and then 4 meters east, your displacement is a straight line from your starting point to your endpoint, not just the total number of meters walked. This straight-line measurement includes both distance and direction, making displacement a vector quantity.
Distance
Distance measures how much ground an object has covered, but it does not account for direction. For example, if you run around a track and cover 400 meters, your distance is 400 meters, regardless of your starting and ending points. This makes distance a scalar quantity, which has only magnitude and no direction.