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Is current a vector quantity or not?
Note: Current is a vector because it has a magnitude and a direction. Since current doesn’t obey it and it follows algebraic addition, currents are scalar.
Why the current is a scalar quantity?
Why electric current is a scalar quantity? In the case of electric current, when two currents meet at a junction, the resultant current of these will be an algebraic sum and not the vector sum. Therefore, an electric current is a scalar quantity although it possesses magnitude and direction.
Why current is scalar quantity not vector?
Electric current is a scalar quantity. In the case of electric current, when two currents meet at a junction, the resultant current of these will be an algebraic sum and not the vector sum. Therefore, an electric current is a scalar quantity although it possesses magnitude and direction.
Why electric current is not a vector even though it has?
Explanation: In the case of electric current , although it has direction, but when the two current collides or meets their sum is equal to the algebric sum and not vector sum (i.e it does not follow the parallelogram of vector addition). Hence it is a scalar quantity and is not a vector even though it has direction.
Why current is scalar and current density is vector?
The current is a scalar quantity. Current density is a vector quantity because it’s a product of charge density and velocity, here charge density is a scalar quantity and velocity is a vector quantity, which makes current density also a vector quantity.
Why current does not follow vector addition?
To be precise, current is not a vector quantity. Although current has a specific direction and magnitude, it does not obey the law of vector addition.
Is electric current a fundamental quantity?
The current can also be derived if we know the no of charges flowing in the conductor. Thus current is considered as the fundamental physical quantity and charge is a derived quantity.
Why electric current is not considered as vector quantity though it can be expressed as in the form direction and magnitude both?
Current isn’t a vector quantity even if it has both magnitude and direction. This is because according to the defination of vector, “Any measurable quantity that has both magnitude and direction and can be added by triangle law of vector addition is called a vector”.
Why current does not obey vector law of addition?
Is electric current density a vector quantity?
The current density vector is defined as a vector whose magnitude is the electric current per cross-sectional area at a given point in space, its direction being that of the motion of the positive charges at this point. In SI base units, the electric current density is measured in amperes per square metre.