Is current a vector or a scalar?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking whether current is classified as a vector or a scalar quantity in physics. Current refers to the flow of electric charge and it has both magnitude and direction, which is characteristic of vector quantities.
Answer
scalar
The final answer is scalar
Answer for screen readers
The final answer is scalar
More Information
Despite having both magnitude and direction, electric current is treated as a scalar quantity because it follows the laws of scalar addition, not vector addition.
Tips
Current can be wrongly assumed to be a vector because it has direction, but it does not follow vector addition rules.