2007-01-09 02:26:17 · 8 answers · asked by Jac 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
It's generally drawn as an arrow, where the length of the arrow indicates the magnitude and the direction of the arrow is the direction of the vector.
It can also be written mathematically as components:
v = 2i + 2j
would be a vector that you might draw on the xy-plane as an arrow at the origin going from the origin to the point (2, 2). (i is the "unit vector" (vector with magnitude 1) pointing toward the positive x-axis, and j is the unit vector pointing toward the positive y-axis.)
The "magnitude" of the vector is the length of the arrow. If you draw the vector 2i + 2j, you'll see that it forms a right triangle with both sides 2. By the Pythagorean Theorem, the magnitude of the vector would then be √(2² + 2²) = 2√2.
And the "direction" would be the angle that the arrow makes with the x-axis, which can be found using tangent:
tan θ = 2/2, so θ = 45°
Vectors are used a lot in physics, for representing forces, accelerations, velocities, displacements, etc.
2007-01-09 02:29:39 · answer #1 · answered by Jim Burnell 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In physics and in vector calculus, a spatial vector, or simply vector, is a concept characterized by a magnitude and a direction.
A common example of a vector is force — it has a magnitude and an orientation and multiple forces sum according to the parallelogram law.
I hope that is of some assistance :-)
2007-01-09 02:30:41 · answer #2 · answered by bad_sector 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A vector is a number that also contains a directional component. For instance, when you drive in a car, you may be traveling 60 mph. This is speed, a quantity that has no directional component (called a scalar).
But if you put your direction in, "I'm going 60 mph east." Then you have a vector. This helps when you're discussing things like acceleration, friction, wind resistance, etc.
2007-01-09 02:42:46 · answer #3 · answered by bequalming 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
a vector is a direction from a point ( simple is best ) *the above refer to vector graphics - the principle usage in a computer is vector line art
2007-01-09 02:33:58 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a vector is something that contains both magnitude and direction
2007-01-09 02:33:10 · answer #5 · answered by kevin h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A VECTOR HAS BOTH MAGNITUDE AND DIRECTION EXAMPLE ACCELERATION
2007-01-09 04:13:02 · answer #6 · answered by S.G 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is a unit of length such as a line, but the catch is that the direction is defined.
2007-01-09 02:30:13 · answer #7 · answered by yodakelbell 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An entity which has both magniytude and direction.
2007-01-09 04:14:36 · answer #8 · answered by openpsychy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋