The Physics
Hypertextbook
Opus in profectus

Vector Addition and Subtraction

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Summary

Physical quantities compared * The gravitational field is a vector field in classical physics and a tensor field in general relativity. A tensor is a mathematical object that is more complex than a vector, kind of like the way a vector is more complex than a scalar.
aspect scalars vectors
definition a quantity that has
magnitude only
a quantity that has both
magnitude and direction
up, down, left, right
forward, backward
north, east, west, south
parallel, perpendicular
radial, tangential
positive, negative
bearing angle
angle of inclination, depression
angle with respect to…
right ascension, declination
examples distance
time
speed


mass
energy
surface area
volume
density
displacement

velocity
acceleration
force
weight
momentum
projected area

fields Higgs field gravitational field*, electric field, magnetic field, electromagnetic field, electroweak fields, gluon field
mathematics ordinary arithmetic
addition, subtraction
sum (+), difference (−)
multiplication
geometry, trigonometry, vector arithmetic
vector addition, vector subtraction
resultant (), change ()
dot product (·), cross product (×)
solutions diagrams are often helpful diagrams are essentially mandatory
answers a number with a unit a number with a unit and a direction angle
-or-
a number with a unit along each coordinate axis
-or-
an arrow drawn to scale in a specific direction