Vectors and Scalars - Vocabulary Flashcards

Flashcards covering core vocabulary for vectors, scalars, their properties, and methods of adding vectors as presented in the lecture notes.

Vector

A quantity described by both magnitude and direction; depicted with an arrow on top of the symbol to indicate it is a vector.

Scalar

A quantity described by magnitude only, with no direction.

Displacement

A vector representing the change in position from start to end, including direction.

Distance

A scalar representing the total ground covered along a path; magnitude only.

Velocity

A vector describing the rate of change of position with a specific direction.

Speed

A scalar describing how fast an object is moving; magnitude only.

Acceleration

A vector describing the rate of change of velocity (magnitude and direction).

Time

A scalar quantity that measures duration between events.

Force

A vector quantity that causes or tends to cause motion, having magnitude and direction.

Energy

A scalar quantity representing the capacity to do work or produce change.

Origin

The reference point in a coordinate system from which positions are measured.

Axis

One of the reference directions (e.g., x-axis, y-axis) in a coordinate system.

Cartesian Plane

A two-dimensional coordinate system with perpendicular x and y axes.

Reference Frame

A coordinate system and set of axes used to describe position and motion.

Graphical Method

Adding vectors by plotting them head-to-tail on a diagram to obtain the resultant.

Analytical Method

Adding vectors by resolving them into x- and y-components and summing the components.

Component

A projection of a vector along a coordinate axis; includes x-component and y-component.

X-component

The projection of a vector along the x-axis (horizontal component).

Y-component

The projection of a vector along the y-axis (vertical component).

Magnitude

The length or size of a vector, irrespective of its direction.

Direction

The orientation of a vector relative to reference axes or cardinal directions.

Resultant

The vector sum of two or more vectors; the overall magnitude and direction.

Tip-to-Tail

Graphical method of vector addition where the tail of a vector is placed at the head of the previous one.

Projections

The components of a vector along the axes (e.g., x- and y-components).

North of East

A directional description indicating a vector is rotated from the east axis toward the north (example: 30° north of east).

Ruler and Protractor

Tools used to measure lengths and angles when analyzing vectors graphically.

Compass Rose

A diagram showing cardinal directions used as an alternative to Cartesian axes.

Two-Dimensional (2D) Vectors

Vectors defined in a plane using two perpendicular axes (x and y).