Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A vector is a quantity that has both magnitude and direction. It represents physical quantities such as displacement, velocity, and force.
Related terms
Force Vector: A force vector is a type of vector that represents a force acting on an object. It includes both the magnitude and direction of the force.
Magnitude refers to the size or amount of a vector quantity without considering its direction. It is represented by a scalar value.
Displacement Vector: A displacement vector represents the change in position from one point to another. It includes both magnitude and direction, indicating how far and in which direction an object has moved.