Vector Quantity/Examples

Examples of Vector Quantities

Displacement

The (physical) displacement of a body is a measure of its position relative to a given point of reference in a particular frame of reference.

Velocity

The velocity $\mathbf v$ of a body $M$ is defined as the first derivative of the displacement $\mathbf s$ of $M$ from a given point of reference with respect to time $t$:

$\mathbf v = \dfrac {\d \mathbf s} {\d t}$

Acceleration

The acceleration $\mathbf a$ of a body $M$ is defined as the first derivative of the velocity $\mathbf v$ of $M$ relative to a given point of reference with respect to time $t$:

$\mathbf a = \dfrac {\d \mathbf v} {\d t}$

Linear Momentum

The linear momentum of a body is its mass multiplied by its velocity.

$\mathbf p = m \mathbf v$

Angular Momentum

The angular momentum of a body about a point $P$ is its moment of inertia $I$ about $P$ multiplied by its angular velocity $\omega$ about $P$:

$L = I \omega$