Question

Which of the following is true about voltage and electric field?
A. Both are vectors.
B. Voltage is a vector and electric field is a scalar.
C. Both are scalars.
D. Voltage is a scalar and electric field is a vector.

Answer 1

Hint: This question is simply asking us to differentiate between a scalar and a vector quantity. A scalar quantity has a magnitude only but no direction which means this quantity is not biased to move in a particular direction. Whereas a vector quantity has a direction and also a magnitude, it is biased to move in a specific direction. If we are able to differentiate between these two quantities, we can find out which statement is true.

Complete answer:
Electric field is a physical field that surrounds a charged body and exerts force on all the other charged particles which come under the electric field.

Electric field being a type of force has a direction which is outward for positive charges and inward for negative charges, thus this field has a direction and magnitude so we conclude that electric field is a vector quantity.

Voltage also known as electrical pressure is a type of pressure from the power source of an electric circuit that pushes the current around the electric circuit. In general sense voltage has no specific direction of flow as in case of current of electric field so it is a scalar quantity.Voltage has a magnitude but with no applicable direction as it is a product of two scalar quantities (current and resistance) thus it is a scalar.

Note: Another way of determining whether the quantity is a vector or scalar is by checking out its constituent or by checking the products of its constituent quantity.Like if a quantity is made from the multiplication of two scalar quantities, then it is a scalar quantity and if the quantity is made from the product of one scalar and one vector quantity then the quantity is a vector quantity. In general, if a minimum of one of the quantities is a vector the resultant quantity is a scalar.