Physics Review Question

Unit: Mechanics
Year: 1994 Question#: 4
Question: Which is a vector quantity?

(1 ) distance
(2 ) time
(3 ) speed
(4 ) acceleration

What is this question really asking?




Explanation by: Liz M.

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Answer 1
distance

INCORRECT

This answer is incorrect because in order for something to be a vector quantity it must be described by both magnitude and direction. Distance is only described by magnitude; it is a scalor quantity. return to top























Answer 2
time
INCORRECT
This answer is incorrect because in order for something to be a vector quantity it must be described by both magnitude and direction. Time is a scalor quantity it is only measured by magnitude. return to top



























Answer 3
speed

INCORRECT

This answer is incorrect because in order for something to be a vector quantity it must be described by both magnitude and direction. Speed is a scalor quantity; it is only described by magnitude. return to top


























Answer 4
acceleration

CORRECT

...because a vector quantity has magnitude and direction. Acceleration is a vector quantity because it is not only described by number with appropriate units but also by direction. It is a change in velocity/time.
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What's this question really asking?

The question is asking if the student knows the definition of a vector. return to top

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