Why is force considered a vector quantity?

Force is classified as a vector quantity because it possesses both magnitude and direction. This dual characteristic is essential for fully describing the nature of forces in physical interactions. The magnitude indicates how strong the force is, while the direction informs us where the force is applied.

For instance, when you push a box, the amount you push represents the magnitude, while the direction in which you push (e.g., to the right or upward) tells us how the box will move as a result of that force. Since different forces can have the same magnitude but act in different directions, simply knowing the strength of the force (magnitude) is insufficient to understand the total effect of the force applied. This combination of magnitude and direction is what differentiates vector quantities like force from scalar quantities, which only have magnitude.