Coordinates system.
We must first have a coodinate system in order to make clear about our vector. Say we have a force acting on a mass that rest on the table. What happen to the mass after the force applied on it? There are two possibility will be happen if the force is constant. First, the mass still at the rest or second the mass will moving in the linear motion.
In physics, there are two kind of quantities that have a vital roles in order to explain the phenomena encounter in the real world.
The two quantities are: scalar and vector.
definition:
A scalar is a quantity that has a magnitude only. example of scalar are: pressures, length, mass, intensity, energy, electric potential, and so on.
A vector is a quantity that has both a magnitude and a direction. example of vector are: force, displacement, velocity, acceleration, linear momentum, electric field, magnetic field, and so on.
sometimes, in the books, the temperature is classified as a scalar quantity but it is not as simple as that.
What is a symbol for a scalar and a vector?
A symbol for scalar usually is a letter without any changes or stand alone. For example: a body has a mass m, electric potential is V, energy is E, and so on. while for a vector the symbol should be a bold letter both a small or a capital letter. For example: a force usually given the symbol F or F with an arrow exactly above of that letter. (see the figure.)
Note: in this time and to the future we use both the former or the later one interchange.
