Book edition 1st Edition

Author(s) Paul Peter Urone

Pages 1272 pages

ISBN 9781938168000

Answers without the blur.

Just sign up for free and you're in.

Short Answer

A weather forecast states that the temperature is predicted to be −5ºC the following day. Is this temperature a vector or a scalar quantity? Explain.

Temperature is a scalar quantity. It is equal in all directions, and no need to mention the direction with the magnitude.

See the step by step solution

Step by Step Solution

TABLE OF CONTENTS :

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Step 1: What is a Scalar or vector?

A quantity that is defined by only the help of the magnitude is called a scalar quantity. This kind of quantity does not require direction for mentioning.

Examples of scalar quantity are mass, distance, temperature, etc.

A quantity which requires both magnitudes as well as the direction is called a vector quantity.

Examples of vector quantity are velocity, displacement, force, etc.

Step 2: Explanation

The degree of hotness or coolness of a substance is expressed by temperature, which is a physical quantity.

When a body comes into touch with another that is colder or hotter, it is the manifestation of thermal energy, which is present in all matter and is the cause of the occurrence of heat, a flow of energy.

So if the body is very cold, then the temperature can drop down to zero as well as below zero also. The value – (negative) shows how cold the body is. It is the amount of coldness.

It does not have any relation with the direction. Here the negative sign is not representing the direction of the temperature.

Temperature is a scalar quantity; it does not need any direction to describe temperature.

Hence The negative sign here means the magnitude of temperature is very low.

Find Study Materials for

Create Study Materials

Select your language

College Physics (Urone)

Answers without the blur.

Short Answer

A weather forecast states that the temperature is predicted to be −5ºC the following day. Is this temperature a vector or a scalar quantity? Explain.

Step by Step Solution

Step 1: What is a Scalar or vector?

Step 2: Explanation

Most popular questions for Physics Textbooks

Want to see more solutions like these?

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Select your language

College Physics (Urone)

Answers without the blur.

Short Answer

A weather forecast states that the temperature is predicted to be −5ºC the following day. Is this temperature a vector or a scalar quantity? Explain.

Step by Step Solution

Step 1: What is a Scalar or vector?

Step 2: Explanation

Most popular questions for Physics Textbooks

Want to see more solutions like these?

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

Work Energy and Power

Radiation

Astrophysics

Physics of Motion

Scientific Method Physics

Fluids

Torque and Rotational Motion

Nuclear Physics

Fields in Physics

Measurements

Space Physics

Electricity

Physical Quantities and Units

Medical Physics

Electrostatics

Further Mechanics and Thermal Physics

Mechanics and Materials

Engineering Physics

Energy Physics

Force

Particle Model of Matter

Waves Physics

Magnetism

Modern Physics

Atoms and Radioactivity

Dynamics

Electricity and Magnetism

Conservation of Energy and Momentum

Fundamentals of Physics

Kinematics Physics

Circular Motion and Gravitation

Linear Momentum

Rotational Dynamics

Oscillations

Translational Dynamics

Geometrical and Physical Optics

Thermodynamics

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Electromagnetism

Electric Charge Field and Potential

Turning Points in Physics