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Scalar |
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scalar, quantity or number possessing only sign and magnitude, e.g., the real numbers (see number number, entity describing the magnitude or position of a mathematical object or extensions of these concepts.
The Natural Numbers
Cardinal numbers describe the size of a collection of objects; two such collections have the same (cardinal) number of ..... Click the link for more information. ), in contrast to vectors vector, quantity having both magnitude and direction; it may be represented by a directed line segment. Many physical quantities are vectors, e.g., force, velocity, and momentum. ..... Click the link for more information. and tensors tensor, in mathematics, quantity that depends linearly on several vector variables and that varies covariantly with respect to some variables and contravariantly with respect to others when the coordinate axes are rotated (see Cartesian coordinates). ..... Click the link for more information. ; scalars obey the rules of elementary algebra. Many physical quantities have scalar values, e.g., length, area, mass, energy, and electric charge. Such quantities as velocity, force, momentum, and spin are vectors and follow different algebraic rules. scalar A single item or value. Contrast with vector and array, which are made up of multiple values. See scalar processor.scalar 1. a quantity, such as time or temperature, that has magnitude but not direction 2. Maths an element of a field associated with a vector space 3. having magnitude but not direction scalar [′skā·lər] (computer science) A single value or item. (mathematics) One of the algebraic quantities which form a field, usually the real or complex numbers, by which the vectors of a vector space are multiplied. (physics) A quantity which has magnitude only and no direction, in contrast to a vector. A quantity which has magnitude only, and has the same value in every coordinate system. Also known as scalar invariant.
Scalar a quantity such that each of its values can be expressed by a single (real) number. Examples of scalars include length, area, time, mass, density, temperature, and work. The term “scalar” is used—sometimes simply as a synonym for “number”—in vector analysis, where a scalar is distinguished from a vector. Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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