21.3k views
2 votes
Why is current a scalar quantity?

User Edallme
by
6.4k points

1 Answer

3 votes
Despite current has a magnitude and a direction, like vectors, it is a scalar because it doesn't obey laws of vector addition. For instance, if we consider a junction of
90^(\circ) in a circuit, and two currents entering this junction, we know that the resultant current is just the algebraic sum of the two currents, not the vector sum, so it is not a vector quantity.
User JeffV
by
5.8k points