i want to know - "current is a scalar quntity or vector quntity and how????????"
2006-12-16 04:05:03 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Current is a vector quantity because it "flows" from + to -.
When you analyze circuits, the direction of current is very important and it always flows from most potential to least potential.
For example, say you have a simple circuit loop with a DC source and a diode.
(loop) ----- [+]Battery[-] --- diode (loop)
loop means the ends are connected.
Depending on the way the current flows, which is dependant on the [+] and [-] the circuit will or will not conduct electricity because a diode is like a one way path. This is commonly used in many applications.
Edit:
Doug has made a very good point in regards to AC current. It is always represented as a vector as he described.
2006-12-16 04:08:06 · answer #1 · answered by polloloco.rb67 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
current is not a vector quantity since it does not obey the law of vector addition. For a quantity to be vector, it must obey the law of vector addition. Some people argue that current have direction. Does the water flowing in the pipe have direction? More of all, is the flow of water is a vector quantity? In A.C. we read about the phase difference. This is a comparative study only. Physically, the current and emf donot have direction. So they are scalar quantity. We often do a mistake by considering that current have direction. We consider the phase only inorder to relate it to a uniform ciucular motion in order to simplify our study ( as we have done in case of simple harmonic motion)
2006-12-17 04:27:26 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In DC circuits it's usually a scalar since you're only interested in the magnitude. But it's best described as a vector if you're talking about an AC circuit in which the phase angle between the current and the applied voltage is important.
Doug
2006-12-16 04:11:15 · answer #3 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Current is neither a vector, nor a scalar. It falls in a separate class called tensors.
It cannot be a scalar, since it has a direction, and it cannot be a vector since it does not follow the triangle law of addition (must for vectors).
2006-12-16 09:18:03 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a scalar, plain and simple
In AC circuits, current is still a scalar, though phase diffs are represented by vectors called phasors
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phasor_%28physics%29
2006-12-16 04:18:45 · answer #5 · answered by howbigis1gb 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Current is a scalar quantity . although it flows from + to - but when potentials are changed its flow with respect to direction changes but vectors are those having specified direction at all conditions so current is not a vector....
2006-12-16 04:34:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
current is a scalar quantity as it does not need any specific direction to define it
it just needs magnitude.
we donot talk about current going in the upwards or downwards direction.
2006-12-16 04:08:47 · answer #7 · answered by mundane gal 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"Current" of what?
Strictly speaking, current is a vector as it assumes transportation.
common mistake with "electric current" is that one of improper use of word "current" for counting (electrons).
2006-12-16 04:17:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is a scalar quantity
2006-12-19 15:30:32 · answer #9 · answered by vicky 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This site will answer your question:
http://www.rong-chang.com/
2006-12-16 04:51:57 · answer #10 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋