What is a vector?

What is a vector?

• A. A quantity that has magnitude only
• B. A quantity that has direction only
• C. A quantity that has both magnitude and direction
• D. A scalar with no direction

Answer: (C)

A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. The magnitude is how large the quantity is, and the direction specifies which way it points in space. This is why quantities like velocity, displacement, and force are vectors—they require both size and direction to be fully described. Scalars, such as distance or mass, have only magnitude and no direction, so they are not vectors. An option describing magnitude without direction isn’t a vector, and one describing direction without magnitude is incomplete.

A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. The magnitude is how large the quantity is, and the direction specifies which way it points in space. This is why quantities like velocity, displacement, and force are vectors—they require both size and direction to be fully described. Scalars, such as distance or mass, have only magnitude and no direction, so they are not vectors. An option describing magnitude without direction isn’t a vector, and one describing direction without magnitude is incomplete.