Vectors

Abstract

Many of the quantities we consider in physical and chemical problems are pure numbers and do not have any directional properties. Examples are mass, temperature and energy. Such quantities are scalars. However, other properties such as force, velocity, electric field and angular momentum have both magnitude and direction and are called vectors. Vector quantities are of great importance in many molecular problems such as the discussion of angular momentum in atomic and molecular structure, the interaction of electromagnetic fields with matter and in diffusion problems, so it is essential that we learn how to work with such quantities.