What term describes a quantity that is fully defined by its magnitude, direction, and sense?

Prepare for the T Level Engineering Test with in-depth study and explore multiple choice questions designed to enhance your understanding and get you ready for the exam!

The term that describes a quantity fully defined by its magnitude, direction, and sense is a vector. Vectors are essential in physics and engineering as they not only have a size (magnitude) but also a direction in which they act. For instance, if you think about a force acting on an object, simply stating the force's size is not enough; knowing which direction it acts is crucial for understanding the overall effect on the object.

In contrast, scalars only possess magnitude, which means that they do not provide directional information. Torque, while important in rotational mechanics, is also a type of vector quantity because it involves both magnitude and direction. Mass is a scalar quantity, defined solely by its magnitude without any directional component. Therefore, the definition of a vector aligns perfectly with the characteristics described in the question.

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