{"id":25,"date":"2009-09-10T09:29:00","date_gmt":"2009-09-10T13:29:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/aplusphysics.com\/wordpress\/regents\/uncategorized\/vector-introduction\/"},"modified":"2009-09-10T09:29:00","modified_gmt":"2009-09-10T13:29:00","slug":"vector-introduction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aplusphysics.com\/wordpress\/regents\/uncategorized\/vector-introduction\/","title":{"rendered":"Vector Introduction"},"content":{"rendered":"

INTRODUCTION<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our world is three dimensional, and we need to develop the tools to describe that three-dimensional world. Those tools are called vectors<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

So what exactly are vectors? They are tools to help us better understand all about direction. Technically speaking, vectors are a quantity that has magnitude and direction.<\/p>\n

Vector – quantity having both magnitude and direction (but not location)<\/p>\n

Scalar – quantity having magnitude only<\/p>\n

As an example, let’s say that we start with a distance, 100 m. Not an overly helpful distance at this point. And we know it’s a scalar. How do we make it a vector? Just that easy, we add a direction and it’s now a displacement.<\/p>\n

And how about a speed? 50 miles per hour. OK. Now let’s make it a vector. 50 miles per hour east. Because it’s now a vector quantity, we call it velocity.<\/p>\n

VECTOR ALGEBRA<\/strong><\/p>\n