The two conventions that will be discussed and used in this unit are described below: There are a variety of conventions for describing the direction of any vector. Thus, there is a clear need for some form of a convention for identifying the direction of a vector that is not due East, due West, due South, or due North. But some vectors are directed northeast (at a 45 degree angle) and some vectors are even directed northeast, yet more north than east. Vectors can be directed due East, due West, due South, and due North. In this case, the diagram shows the magnitude is 20 m and the direction is (30 degrees West of North).Ĭonventions for Describing Directions of Vectors the magnitude and direction of the vector is clearly labeled.a vector arrow (with arrowhead) is drawn in a specified direction.Observe that there are several characteristics of this diagram that make it an appropriately drawn vector diagram. The vector diagram depicts a displacement vector. An example of a scaled vector diagram is shown in the diagram at the right. Such diagrams are commonly called as free-body diagrams. Vector diagrams were introduced and used in earlier units to depict the forces acting upon an object. Vector diagrams depict a vector by use of an arrow drawn to scale in a specific direction. Vector quantities are often represented by scaled vector diagrams. Vector quantities are not fully described unless both magnitude and direction are listed. To find it, displace yourself from the center of the classroom door 20 meters in a direction 30 degrees to the west of north." This statement now provides a complete description of the displacement vector - it lists both magnitude (20 meters) and direction (30 degrees to the west of north) relative to a reference or starting position (the center of the classroom door). On the other hand, suppose your teacher tells you "A bag of gold is located outside the classroom. The displacement required to find the bag of gold has not been fully described. To find it, displace yourself 20 meters." This statement may provide yourself enough information to pique your interest yet, there is not enough information included in the statement to find the bag of gold. For example, suppose your teacher tells you "A bag of gold is located outside the classroom.
Magnitude in physics full#
Each of these quantities are unique in that a full description of the quantity demands that both a magnitude and a direction are listed. The emphasis of this unit is to understand some fundamentals about vectors and to apply the fundamentals in order to understand motion and forces that occur in two dimensions.Įxamples of vector quantities that have been previously discussed include displacement, velocity, acceleration, and force. On the other hand, a scalar quantity is a quantity that is fully described by its magnitude. A vector quantity is a quantity that is fully described by both magnitude and direction. All these quantities can by divided into two categories - vectors and scalars. Examples of such quantities include distance, displacement, speed, velocity, acceleration, force, mass, momentum, energy, work, power, etc. A study of motion will involve the introduction of a variety of quantities that are used to describe the physical world.
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