RQ08 Please enter your name:
1. Laura Bender
2. Megan Fulop
3. Griffith Williams
4. Drew Calvert
5. Colby Ricker
6. R. Jeff Bloch
7. Jeff Costello
8. Mark Kretzer
9. Chris Barker
10. Sara Halper
11. Tom Cassidy
12. Megan Evanoka
13. Richar Petroni
14. Rachael Garrison
15. Patrick Feng
16. Keith Graham
17. Tim Hinkle
What's the key difference between a vector and a scalar? Also, why are vectors important in physics?
1. Vector quantities require both a direction and magnitude. Scalar quantities just require a magnitude, such as the
mass or length of an object. Vectors are important in physics because when describing the vital concept of the
motion of something, the direction must be included.
2. Vectors have both magnitude and dircetion. Scalars have no direction. Vectors are important because they give
us more information about the number, it tells us in which direction it is going.
3. Scalars have magnitude only. Vectors assign a direction with their magnitude.
4. A vector has both a quantity and a direction, whereas a scalar has only a quantity. Vectors are important in
physics because velocity and force need to be quantified with respect to their direction in order to calculate the
effects of certain situations (airplanes in crosswind, ect.)
5. Vectors have direction. Vectors allow us to consider the way certain quantities (velocitys, etc.) interact with each
other.
6. A vector is a quantity with a direction. A scalar, however, is just a quantity. For instance, if a car is travelling "65
mph", this is a scalar. If a car is travelling "65 mph north", this is a vector because it supplies both a quantity and
a direction. Vectors are important because they can be added together and subtracted to achieve the end vector
quanity and direction.
7. A Scaler is a number or measurement that describes the magnitude of something whereas a vector is a
measurement loigcally coupled with a specific direction that describes it motion. Vectors are important for
physics because there a certain concepts such as velocity or force that can logically require a specific direction
to be used in an theory or computation.
8. A scalar is a measure of force only, a vector is a measure of force and direction. An example of a vector is
gravity moving downward on the earth. Vectors are important to physics because direction of a force is vital to
the reaction an object will have due to the force. It is important to be able to measure the way a force interacts
with another force or another object.
9. A Vector is a speed or force along with a direction (such as velocity). A scalar is something which does include
direction in the measurement, such as speed, mass, voltage, etc.
10. a vector is a physical quantity that has both an amount and a direction, scalar is simply a measrment of the
amount. Force is an example of a vector where as temperature is an example of scalar. Some quantities require
both a manitude and a direction thus vectors are essential and can be represented by arrows.
11. Vectors contain a measure and a direction. Scalar contains measures alone. Scalar does not require a direction.
Vectors are important in physics because they can signify velocity, acceleration, and momentum.
12. A vector has both direction and magnitude... for example a car going 60 mph west. A scalar only has
magnitude... a car going 60 mph. Vectors are important in physics because we deal with forces and they are
vectors so in order to understand the nature of forces we have to understand how vectors work (how they are
added and such).
13. A vector is concerned with both direction and speed while a scalar is only concerned with speed.
14. Vectors and Scalars both have momentum, but vectors have momentum with a direction. Vectors are important
in physics b/c direction gives more information and can play an important role in calculations.
