Suggested languages for you:

Americas

Europe

Q1CQ

Expert-verified
Found in: Page 71

### Physics For Scientists & Engineers

Book edition 9th Edition
Author(s) Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
Pages 1624 pages
ISBN 9781133947271

# Is it possible to add a vector quantity to a scalar quantity? Explain.

No, it is not possible to add a vector quantity to a scalar quantity.

See the step by step solution

## Step 1: Define the vector and scalar quanitity.

Vector quantities are physical quantities for which both magnitude and direction are clearly defined.

Scalar quantities are physical quantities that have only one magnitude. It can be adequately described by a numerical value or a magnitude. There are no directions for a scalar quantity.

## Step 2: Reason why we can not add vector and scalar quantity

A vector quantity has both magnitude as well as direction but scalar quantity has only magnitude. So a quantity having only magnitude can be added with scalar quantity like speed, mass, distance etc.

Example;

Try combining the velocity and speed. $8.0m/s+\left[\left(15.0m/s\right)North\right].$ .

No we cannot add a vector quantity to a scalar quantity.