Question

For College Physics. Please explain in paragraph form. Please type it out as I cannot read some written hand writing

Respond to the following: In your OWN words DON'T copy from an online course.

Explain vector, scalar, speed, velocity, and linear acceleration. Also give examples.

Answer 1

Vector:- Vector can be defined as a quantity which have magnitude as well as direction. It can be represented by a arrow of finite length and direction. The length of the arrow gives the magnitude of the vector and its direction is same as direction of the vector. for doing some mathematical process like addition, subtraction, multiplication..etc using vector we have to follow vector formula. For example, if we talk about force acting on a body. Then, we have to considered magnitude of force as well as direction in which force is acting, for understanding complete behaviour of body.

Other Example:- Displacement, Velocity, Acceleration etc...

Scalar:- Scalar can be defined as a quantity which have only magnitude. It represented by normally a line or point which have no direction. For example, if we talk about mass of body then we have to consider only magnitude (mass) of the body. We can't define any direction for mass.

Other Example:-Temperature, length, Energy etc..

Speed:- Speed can be defined as the ratio of distance (scalar) covered by a object to the total time taken by the object. It is scalar quantity. It just tell about the "How fast a body is moving" only magnitude not in which direction it is moving. It can't be negative, it always be zero or positive. Its S.I unit is same as velocity (m/sec).

Velocity:- Velocity can be defined as the ratio of displacement (vector quantity) of a body to the time taken by the body. It is rate of change in position of a body with respect to time. It is a vector quantity, so it have both magnitude and direction. Means it tells that "How fast a body's position move with respect to time ". It may be negative, zero and positive. Suppose, a person start walking from one position to other position and then he comes to his initial position. In overall process, the velocity of the person is zero because it position became same after a interval of time.

Acceleration:- It can be defined as the rate of change of velocity with respect to time. In other words acceleration is second derivative of displacement with respect to time. It is a vector quantity. It tells about the rate at which the velocity of a body changes. If a body's velocity is increasing with time then we can say that the body have positive acceleration. If the body,s velocity decreasing with time then we can say that body is retarding or have negative acceleration or if velocity remain constant then we can say that body have zero acceleration.