In a coordinate system position is just a label for the points, so we can distinguish between different points. Then why we use a position vector to specify the position as it is just a label and nothing else. We can use colours if we want to label the points and it would be fine. For example, Paris is a label for a specific location on earth and it does not have magnitude or direction. Please explain it in as simple terms as you can do not use jargon.
In: Physics
Position is always defined relative to something else.
If you ask for my position and I say “I’m at 53 metres”, then that doesn’t mean anything to you. 53 metres away from what?
A position vector is just defining a set point as 0 and noting your position relative to that. When you give your longitude, you’re saying your position on the east/west axis relative to Greenwich. When you give your latitude, you’re saying your north/south position relative to the equator. So combinining them is just giving your position relative to a specific point on the globe. And for that to be useful, you have to say how far you are away from that point as well as what direction you’re moving in, which makes it a vector.
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