In physics, what is the resultant vector?

The resultant vector is defined as the vector that captures the net effect of two or more vectors being combined. This means that when you add vectors together, taking into account their magnitudes and directions, the resultant vector represents the overall impact of those combined vectors. For instance, if you have two force vectors acting at an angle to each other, the resultant vector would be the single force that produces the same effect as the combination of those two forces.

This concept is fundamental in physics and engineering because it allows for the simplification of complex problems involving multiple forces, displacements, or velocities into a single quantity that can be analyzed or interpreted more easily.

Other choices, such as discussing a vector that opposes an applied force or describing a vector with no direction, do not accurately capture the properties of a resultant vector. The comparison to scalar quantities is also incorrect because scalar values do not involve direction, whereas resultant vectors inherently depend on direction in addition to magnitude. Thus, the choice that accurately describes the resultant vector is the one that conveys the essence of vector addition.