2006-07-27 03:01:55 · 8 answers · asked by ashna 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Electric current is basically the amount of charg passing through a given area divided by time.
Time is a scalar. So is charge. Scalar/Scalar= scalar.
Current may be a scalar, but if you are familiar with the dot product (A . B = c, A,B are vectors, c is a scalar) current I is actually a dot product of the current density J and the area's vector V, which is perpendicular to the area considered. (I = J . V) From here, you can still see that current is a scalar.
2006-07-27 05:02:12 · answer #1 · answered by dennis_d_wurm 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Current actually is a vector quantity, but it is usually the current going through a particular area that is desired and that is the integral of the current denisty with respect to an area. That will give a scalar quantity.
2006-07-27 10:47:46 · answer #2 · answered by mathematician 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Electric POTENTIAL is a scalar quantity. Current flow is a vector quantity.
2006-07-27 10:07:59 · answer #3 · answered by Harry 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The current density is the vector you refer to.
Integration of the scalar product of this vector and a wire cross section surface element gives us the current which we use in day to day terms and measure is Amperes
2006-07-27 10:26:03 · answer #4 · answered by mashkas 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Voltage - how much "pressure" is behind the electricity
Amperage - how many electrons pass through a wire/circuit
Electricity acts pretty much like water in a pipe. You can measure water no matter what direction it is flowing.
2006-07-27 10:11:21 · answer #5 · answered by iron5frenzy 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually it does have an associated vector called the current density.
2006-07-27 10:08:37 · answer #6 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scalar_(physics)
Dunno if that helps. If you are talking AC remember it alternates. What is its direction at any instance in time?
Things are not as black and white in real life at they are explains in text books. Just learn the concepts as presented and discover the true nature of the force on your own.
2006-07-27 10:06:57 · answer #7 · answered by jeepfaust 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it does not follow the triangle law of addition of vectors. that is why it is not a vector quantity.
2006-07-27 10:53:02 · answer #8 · answered by tina281990 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋