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Vector, Scalar and Units
Review
Vector vs. Scalar
 Definitions:


Vectors are any quantity in physics that can
be characterized by both its magnitude and
direction.
Scalars are any quantity in physics that can
be characterized by magnitude only.
What is Magnitude?
 To keep is simple, magnitude can be thought
of the value associated with a vector or scalar
quantity.


Ex. A boy runs 100 meters in the northerly
direction in 20 seconds. What is the
magnitude of his average velocity?
Ans.
d 100m
v 
 5m / s
t
20s
Note: magnitude is the value 5 m/s, which is
also the scalar component of the velocity
vector. In this example, it is the speed.
d
 Stands for?

Displacement or distance
 The Units are?

meters (m)
 Displacement is a vector quantity.
 Distance is a scalar quantity.
v
 Stands for?

Velocity or speed
 The Units are?

meters per second (m/s)
 Velocity is a vector quantity.
 Speed is a scalar quantity, and is the
magnitude of the velocity vector.
a, ac
 Stands for?


Acceleration
ac represents centripetal acceleration, which is
an inward directed acceleration that applies to
objects moving in circular paths.
 The Units are?

meters per second2 (m/s2)
 Acceleration is a vector quantity.
m
 Stands for?

mass
 The Units are?

kilograms (kg)
 Mass is a scalar quantity.
t
 Stands for?

time
 The Units are?

seconds (s)
 Time is a scalar quantity.
F, Fg, Fe
 Stands for?



Force
Fg = mg, is the force due to gravity or weight.
Fe is an electrostatic force.
 The Units are?

Newtons (N)
 Force is a vector quantity
p
 Stands for?

Momentum = mv
 The Units are?

Kilogram-meter per second (kgm/s)
 momentum is a vector quantity.
J
 Stands for?

Impulse = Ft
 The Units are?

Newton-second (Ns)
 Impulse is a vector quantity.
r
 Stands for?

Radial distance between two points or objects.
 The Units are?

meters (m)
 r is a scalar quantity
E
 Stands for?

Electric Field Intensity or Strength.
 The Units are?


N/C (F/q)
V/m (V/d)
 Electric Field Intensity is a vector quantity.
q
 Stands for?

Charge
 Units are?

Coulombs (C)
 Alternate symbol representation:

Q or e
 Charge is a scalar quantity.
I
 Stands for?

Current (Flow of positive charge).
 Units are?

Amperes (A)
 Current is a scalar quantity
V
 Stands for?

Volts / Voltage / Potential Difference / Electric
Potential
 The Units are?

Volts
 Electric Potential is a scalar quantity.
R
 Stands for?

Resistance (An electrical property of a
material that is a measure of the resistance to
flow of electrons in relation to an electrical
potential.)
 The Units are?

Ohms (Ω)
 Resistance is a scalar quantity.

 Stands for?

Resistivity (A natural property of a material
that is a measure of the resistance to the flow
of electrons.)
 The Units are?

Ωm
A
 Stands for?

Cross-sectional area (of a conductor).
 The Units are?

m2
L
 Stands for?

Length (of a conductor).
 The Units are?

m
E
 May also be represented by U or W
 Stands for?

Energy
 The Units are?

Joules (J)
 Energy is a scalar quantity.
W
 Stands for?

Work
 The Units are?

Joules (J)
 Work is a scalar quantity.
P
 Stands for?

Power
 The Units are?


Watts (W)
Joule per second (J/s)
 Power is a scalar quantity.
B
 Stands for?

Magnetic Field Intensity.
 The Units are?

Tesla (T)
 Magnetic Field Intensity is a vector quantity.
c
 Stands for?

Speed of light
 The Units are?

m/s
 The Value is?

3.0 x 108 m/s
f
 Stands for?

Frequency (The number of waves that pass a
point in space per unit of time.)
 The Units are?

Hertz (Hz), cycles/second, or (1/s)
 Frequency is a scalar quantity.
T
 Stands for?

Period (The time required for a wave to
complete 1 cycle, or one wavelength.)
 The Units are?

Seconds (s)
 The period is a scalar quantity.
λ
 Stands for?

Wavelength (The distance at which a wave will
repeat the same pattern over again.)
 The Units are?

Meters (m)
 Wavelength is a scalar quantity
n
 Stands for?


Index of refraction (property of a material that
is used to determine both the speed of light in
that material and the amount that the light will
bend.)
Quantum energy level.
 The Units are?

None
θi, θr, θ1, θ2
 Stands for?




Angle of incidence (θi)
Angle of reflection (θr)
Angle of incidence (θ1)
Angle of refraction (θ2)

All angles are relative to a normal to the surface.
h
 Stands for?

Planck's Constant
 The Units are?

Joule • second (J.s)
 The value is:

6.626 x 10-34 J.s
k
 Stands for?

Electrostatic constant
 The Units are?

Newtons • meters2 / Coulombs2 (Nm2/C2)
 The Value is:

8.99 x 109 Nm2/C2
e
 Stands for?


Elementary charge
Charge on a proton or electron
 The Units are?

Coulombs (C)
 The Value is:

1.6 x 10-19 C
Kinematics
Name
Symbol
Unit Name
Symbol
Distance / Displacement
d
meters
m
Time
t
seconds
s
Velocity / Speed
v
meters / second
m/s
Acceleration
a
meters / second2
m/s2
Forces
Name
Force
Symbol
Unit Name
Symbol
F
Newton
N
(kg·m/s2)
Fnet = ma
Newton
N
(kg·m/s2)
Normal Force
FN or N
Newton
N
(kg·m/s2)
Tensional Force
FT or T
Newton
N
(kg·m/s2)
Fg or W = mg
Newton
N
(kg·m/s2)
Ff
Newton
N
(kg·m/s2)
Fc = mv2/r
Newton
N
(kg·m/s2)
Net Force
Weight / Gravitational Force
Friction
Centripetal Force
Coefficient of Friction
Work & Energy
Name
Work
Potential Energy
Symbol
W = Fd
Unit Name
Joule or Newton - meter
Symbol
J or Nm
PE
Joule
J
KE = ½mv2
Joule
J
Internal Energy / Heat
Q
Joule
J
Power
P
Watt
W or J/s
Kinetic Energy
Momentum
P = mv
Kilogram-meter/second
Impulse
J = Ft
Newton-second
Spring Constant
k
Newton/meter
kg∙m/s
N∙s
N/m or
kg/s2
Electrostatics
Name
Symbol
Unit Name
Electrostatic Force
Fe
Newton
Electric Field Intensity
E
Newtons/Coulomb
Volts/Meter
Charge
Q, q
Coulombs
Symbol
N
N/C
V/m
C
Current Electricity
Name
Symbol
Unit Name
Symbol
Current
I
Amperes
A
Voltage / Potential
Difference / Electric Potent.
V
Volts
V
Resistance
R
Ohms

Resistivity

Ohm – meter
Cross-sectional Area
A
Meters2
m2
Length
L
Meters
m
Power
P
Watts
Joules/second
W
J/s
Energy
E
Joules
J
Work
W
Joules
J
m
Magnetism
Name
Magnetic Field Intensity
Symbol
B
Unit Name
Tesla
Symbol
T
Waves
Name
Symbol
Unit Name
Symbol
Speed
v
Meters/second
m/s
Speed of Light
c
Meters/second
m/s
Wavelength

Meters
m
Frequency
f
Hertz (Hz)
1/seconds
1/s
Period
T
Time (seconds)
s
Light & Optics
Name
Symbol
Unit Name
Symbol
Index of Refraction
n
None
Angle of Incidence
i, or 1
Degrees / Radians
o,
Rad
Angle of Reflection
r
Degrees / Radians
o,
Rad
Angle of Refraction
2
Degrees / Radians
o,
Rad
Constants
Name
Symbol
Unit Name
Planck’s Constant
h
6.626 E-34 J.s
Electrostatic Constant
k
8.99 E9 N.m2/C2
The elementary Charge
e
1.6 E-19 C
Symbol
Vector or Scalar?
Scalars
Distance
Speed
Mass
Time
Power
Charge
Current
Voltage
Vectors
Displacement
Velocity
Acceleration
Force
Momentum
Impulse
Electric Field
Strength
Work
Resistance
Energy
Wavelength
Kinetic Energy Frequency
Weight
Magnetic
Normal Force Field Strength
Tension
Pot. Energy
Period
Elect. Energy
Internal Energy
Friction
Centripetal
Force