What is a velocity vector?

1 Answer
Sep 5, 2014

A vector has magnitude and direction. Whereas, a scalar simply has magnitude.

Velocity is defined to be a vector. Speed on the other hand is defined to be a scalar.

Since you haven't specified, a vector can be as simple as a 1D vector which is either positive or negative.

A vector can be more complicated using 2D. The vector can be specified as Cartesian coordinates, such as #(2,-3)#. Or it can be specified as polar coordinates, such as #(5, 215# degrees#)#.

In can still be more complicated in 3D using Cartesian coordinates, spherical coordinates, cylindrical coordinates, or others.

So, a velocity vector should be specified using one of the above coordinate systems.