Question

What is meant by parallel vectors?

Answer 1

We are asked to define what parallel vectors are. We can start by defining what a vector is and what parallel means. That is, we can start by breaking down the term into two of its constituent words. Once we have done that we can define parallel vectors correctly thus giving us the required answer.

Complete step by step solution:
Let us start to attempt this question by breaking down the term into its two constituent words. Parallel and vector. Parallel lines are those lines that do not intersect, no matter how much we extend it. Vectors are quantities that are represented by a line segment followed by an arrow on the end which shows the direction in which the vector moves. The line segment represents the magnitude of the vector.
Now that we have defined the constituent words of the term “parallel vectors”, we have an idea about what parallel vectors are, they are now narrowed down to vectors that do not intersect. There are two types of vectors that are parallel to one another, ones that are in phase with each other and those that are going in the opposite direction.
Vectors that are moving in the opposite direction are anti-parallel vectors. Parallel vectors are the ones in phase and moving in the same direction. They can have different magnitudes.

Note:
Vectors are an important part of the physical world as they are used to describe physical quantities. There are two types of physical quantities, scalar and vector quantities. Vector quantities have magnitude and direction whereas scalars have only magnitude and no direction. Force and acceleration are vector quantities while time is a scalar quantity.