Question

Which of the following properties are vectors and which are scalars considering a three-dimensional space? Give a “typical” symbol and the S.I. units used to describe these properties, i.e. if I asked for mass density you would answer: ρ is a scalar in units g cm3 = 103 kg m3 ; maybe even state ρ = m V . a) force b) mass c) angular displacement d) energy e) linear acceleration f) the period of a pendulum g) work h) torque i) moment of inertia j) linear momentum

Answer 1

a) Force, F is a vector quantity with unit N or  .

Force is given by,

  

b) Mass, m is a scalar quantity with unit kg.

Mass is defined as the amount of substance present in an object

c) Angular displacement is a vector quantity with unit radians (rad)

Angular displacement is given by,

  

d) Energy, E is a scalar quantity with unit joule (J)  

e) Linear acceleration a is a vector quantity with unit

Linear acceleration is given by,

  

f) Period of a pendulum T is a scalar quantity with the unit second (s)

Period of a pendulum is given by,

  

g) Work W is a scalar quantity with unit joule (J)

Work is given by,

  

h)Torque is a vector quantity with unit N/m

Torque is given by,

  

i) Moment of Inertia I is neither a vector nor a scalar quantity with unit

Moment of Inertia is given by,

  

j) Linear momentum p is a vector quantity with unit kgm/s

Linear momentum is given by,