i kinda know the basic magnitute and direstion stuff, but couLd u guys please write the exact DEFINITIONS, SOME EXAMPLES and explain it to me cous i dont understand it and stuff
2006-12-14 11:11:50 · 3 answers · asked by Valerie 3 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
A vector is something like a force or velocity. To describe it completely you need to state its direction as well as how big it is. A scalar is something like mass or temperature, which doesn't have a direction associated with it. Even more generally, something called a tensor can be even more complicated than force or velocity. Gravity, tidal forces, moment of inertia and strain for instance. To describe your mass, you need just one number; so many kilograms. To describe your velocity you need three numbers; so many km/hour east-west, north-south and up-down. To describe the gravitational field at a point in complete detail, you need twenty numbers. A scalar is a tensor of rank zero. A vector is a tensor of rank one. To describe some quantities, as in the General Theory of Relativity, requires tensors of rank two or three. If anybody knows of tensors of higher rank than three, I'd be interested to hear from you.
2006-12-14 11:29:38 · answer #1 · answered by zee_prime 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
bear in mind the version between a vector and a scalar. A scalar is a volume which has value merely. A vector could have the two value and a direction of shuttle. In Electromagnetism, an occasion of a scalar volume could be electric means. A vector volume could be an electric field, which might have some capability (value) and direction. in case you think approximately the definition of the two, it's going to be trouble-free to work out that electric cutting-edge is a vector volume. lots of the time, even with the undeniable fact that, you will see cutting-edge with out the vector notation (as a scalar) by using fact the direction of shuttle is dictated by employing the form of the cord it travels in. in case you have been to think approximately a planar cutting-edge, it may could desire to be seen as a vector.
2016-12-30 10:21:55 · answer #2 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
vector has directon but no designated length...
such as a ray, that starts at a point but may go on forever.
Ex... starts at (5,4) at 54 degrees.
A scalor has both a direction and length...
such as a line segment
Ex...starts at (5,4), length of 5, at 54 degrees
2006-12-14 11:18:03 · answer #3 · answered by Chad Sexington 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋