Practice question · Multiple choice
The dot product gives a scalar and the cross product gives a vector. Why does that difference match what each is used for in physics?
Hints
- Ask whether work has a direction.
- Then ask whether torque does.
Show the answer
B. Because work has no direction and torque has an axis
Why
The mathematics is chosen to match the physics. A quantity with an axis needs a vector output; a quantity that is just an amount needs a scalar.
Practise Vectors in 2D and 3D
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