Interlude C- Vectors

What does scalar mean?

A single number

Time, length, distance traveled, speed, mass, energy, work

What does vector mean?

Magnitude and direction

Position, displacement, velocity, acceleration, force, momentum .

What is displacement?

A change in position, distance and direction

What does displacement depend on?

The start and end position

What does displacement NOT DEPEND on?

The path taken

What is distance traveled?

The length of the path (scalar)

Does does a round trip equal?

Zero

What is a vector?

Represented geometrically as an arrow indicating both magnitude (length) and direction

What is the symbol for vector?

A → (on top)

A family travels 50 miles, then travels a route of 70 miles to get back home. What is the distance traveled?

120 miles

A family travels 50 miles, then travels a route of 70 miles to get back home. What is the displacement?

0 miles

The ending position minus the final position, and these two are identical

What happens if a vector is equal?

They have the same magnitude and point in the same direction

What happens if there is a negative vector?

They have the same magnitude, but points in opposite directions. They are antiparallel

What happens when you multiply a vector by a positive scalar?

Changes the magnitude of the vector, but remains in the same direction

What happens when you multiply a vector by a negative scalar?

Changes the magnitude, but they point in opposite directions.