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Chapter 3: Q.7CQ (page 119)

Explain why it is not possible to add a scalar to a vector.

Short Answer

Expert verified

The reading obtained from any sum of a vector and a scalar is always wrong and it is impossible to add them.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Scalar and Vector

The physical quantities are divided into two categories. One is the scalar and other is vector. The scalar quantities are those quantities which have only magnitudes and vector quantities are those which have both magnitude and direction.

02

Reason for impossibility of sum of scalar and vector

The scalar quantities do not give information about the direction of the quantity. The magnitude of a vector quantity may be positive or negative due to the direction, but the magnitude of a scalar quantity is always positive; so the sum of vector and scalar does not give an actual magnitude or sum.

Therefore, the reading obtained from any sum of a vector and a scalar is always wrong and it is impossible to add them.

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