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Vectors are used to indicate forces on graph paper because they have both magnitude and direction, which are essential characteristics in the representation of forces. In physics and engineering, forces are not only quantified by how strong they are (magnitude) but also by the direction in which they act. On graph paper, vectors can be visually represented by arrows; the length of the arrow correlates to the magnitude of the force, while the arrowhead indicates the direction. This makes vectors a powerful tool in illustrating and calculating forces and their interactions in various scenarios, such as in mechanics and dynamics.

Lines alone do not convey direction, scalars do not include directionality since they only represent magnitude, and coordinates, while useful for locating points on a graph, do not inherently represent the concept of force. Therefore, the use of vectors is appropriate and essential for accurately depicting forces in a visual format.