Final answer:
Engineers use arrows at the end of a line to signify the direction and magnitude of a vector, essential for representing quantities like force, velocity, and acceleration in vector diagrams.
Step-by-step explanation:
Engineers use an arrow at the end of a line to indicate direction and sometimes magnitude when the line represents a vector. Vectors are graphical representations that include both a magnitude, which is communicated by the length of the line, and a direction, which is indicated by the arrowhead. In physics and engineering, vectors are often used to represent quantities such as force, velocity, and acceleration, where it is crucial to know not just how large the quantity is but also in which direction it is acting. For example, when drawing a force vector, engineers use a scale to accurately represent its magnitude. If the scale is 1 cm = 2 N, a 20 N force pointing east would be depicted as an arrow 10 cm long directed towards the right.