Pick out the only vector quantity in the following list: Temperature, pressure, impulse, time, power, total path length, energy, gravitational potential, coefficient of friction, charge.
Impulse
Explanation
According to the textbook context, a vector quantity is one that has both magnitude and direction and obeys the triangle law or parallelogram law of addition. From the given list, all quantities except impulse are scalars - they have only magnitude. Impulse is the only vector quantity because it has both magnitude and direction. Impulse equals force multiplied by time interval, and since force is a vector, impulse inherits the vector property. The direction of impulse is the same as the direction of the force acting on the body.
Solution Steps
Step 1: Recall that scalar quantities have only magnitude, while vector quantities have both magnitude and direction.
Step 2: Analyze each quantity: Temperature, pressure, time, power, total path length, energy, gravitational potential, coefficient of friction, and charge are all scalars (magnitude only).
Step 3: Identify impulse as the only vector quantity since it has both magnitude and direction and follows vector addition rules.