Which of the following statement is true?a)A scalar is any physical qu...
A scalar is any positive or negative physical quantity that can be completely specified by its magnitude. Examples of scalar quantities include length, mass, time, etc.
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Which of the following statement is true?a)A scalar is any physical qu...
A scalar is any physical quantity that can be completely specified by its magnitude.
Explanation:
- Scalars and vectors are two types of physical quantities that are used to describe various aspects of the physical world.
- A scalar is a quantity that has only magnitude or size. It does not have any direction associated with it.
- On the other hand, a vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction.
- Based on these definitions, option 'A' is the correct statement because it correctly defines a scalar as a physical quantity that can be completely specified by its magnitude.
- Let's further explore the other options to understand why they are not true statements.
Option 'B':
- This statement is incorrect because a vector can be positive or negative, but it is not defined solely based on its sign.
- The sign of a vector indicates its direction, not its nature as a vector.
- For example, velocity can be positive or negative depending on the direction of motion, but it is still a vector quantity.
Option 'C':
- This statement is incorrect because a scalar does not require both magnitude and direction for its complete description.
- As mentioned earlier, a scalar has only magnitude and does not have any direction associated with it.
- Examples of scalar quantities include mass, temperature, time, and energy.
Option 'D':
- This statement is incorrect because it incorrectly defines a scalar as a quantity that can be completely specified by its direction.
- As discussed earlier, a scalar does not have any direction associated with it.
- Direction is a characteristic of vector quantities, not scalar quantities.
In conclusion, option 'A' is the correct statement because it accurately defines a scalar as a physical quantity that can be completely specified by its magnitude.
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