AP®PhysicsCollege BoardPhysics 1: Algebra-BasedFlashcardsUnit 1: KinematicsScalars & Vectors

Scalars & Vectors (College Board AP® Physics 1: Algebra-Based): Flashcards

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  • Define scalar quantity.

    A scalar quantity has magnitude only (no direction).

  • Define vector quantity.

    A vector quantity has both magnitude and direction.

  • What do the length and direction of a vector arrow represent?

    • The length of the arrow represents the magnitude of the vector (drawn in proportion)

    • The direction of the arrow represents the direction of the vector

  • Name the vector quantity that corresponds to each scalar: distance, speed and mass.

    • Distance → displacement

    • Speed → velocity

    • Mass → weight

  • True or False?

    10 m/s north is a scalar quantity.

    False.

    It has a direction as well as a magnitude, so it is a vector quantity (a velocity).

  • How is the magnitude of a vector shown in vector notation?

    With parallel lines on either side of the symbol, e.g. \left|\overset{\rightarrow}{v}\right|

  • For vectors in one dimension, vector notation is not needed because a .......... or .......... value shows the direction.

    For vectors in one dimension, vector notation is not needed because a positive or negative value shows the direction.

  • What is the effect of multiplying vector \overset{\rightarrow}{B} by the scalar 2?

    The magnitude of the vector doubles and its direction does not change.

  • True or False?

    Multiplying a vector by −1 changes its magnitude.

    False.

    The magnitude stays the same; only the direction is reversed.

  • Name the two graphical methods for adding vectors.

    • The tip-to-tail method

    • The parallelogram method

  • The parallelogram method of adding vectors places the vectors .......... to find the resultant vector.

    The parallelogram method of adding vectors places the vectors tail-to-tail to find the resultant vector.

  • How is vector \overset{\rightarrow}{B} subtracted from vector \overset{\rightarrow}{A}?

    By adding -\overset{\rightarrow}{B} (vector \overset{\rightarrow}{B} multiplied by the scalar −1) to \overset{\rightarrow}{A}:

    \overset{\rightarrow}{A} - \overset{\rightarrow}{B} = \overset{\rightarrow}{A} + \left(-\overset{\rightarrow}{B}\right)

  • Define component vectors.

    Component vectors are the two perpendicular one-dimensional vectors, along the x-axis and the y-axis, that a two-dimensional vector is resolved into.

  • How is the magnitude of a two-dimensional vector found from its components?

    Using Pythagoras' theorem:

    \left|\overset{\rightarrow}{A}\right| = \sqrt{\left(A_{x}\right)^{2} + \left(A_{y}\right)^{2}}

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