Physics 1

LESSON 1: UNITS, PHYSICAL QUANTITIES, AND VECTORS

OBJECTIVES:
At the end of this lecture, the student should be able to:
1. write the base units for mass, length, and time in SI and USCS units;
2. define and apply the SI prefixes that indicate multiples of base units;
3. convert units;
4. differentiate scalar and vector quantities;
5. determine the components of vectors;
6. find the resultant of two or more vectors; and
7. find the addition and product of vectors.
PHYSICS – defined as the science that investigates that fundamental concepts of matter, energy, space,
and the relationships among them.
MATHEMATICS IN PHYSICS
Mathematics serves many purposes. It is philosophy, art, metaphysics, and logic. These values are
subordinate, however, to its main value as a tool for the scientist, engineer, or technician. One of the
rewards of a first course in physics is the growing awareness of the relevance of mathematics. A study of
physics reveals applications of basic mathematics.
STUDYING PHYSICS
1. The ultimate responsibility for learning rests with the student.
2. Timely learning is efficient learning.
3. Learning is rarely completed in the classroom.
4. Brush up on basic skills.
5. Study the syllabus.
6. Find a class partner and obtain his/her phone number.
7. Organization is the key to effective learning.
8. If you get in trouble, seek help immediately.

UNITS
MEASUREMENT - a process of detecting an unknown physical quantity by using standard quantity.
METRIC SYSTEM – the system of units used by scientists and engineers around the world.
BRITISH SYSTEM - these units are used only in the United States and a few other countries, and in most
of these they are being replaced by SI units.
THE SI BASE UNITS FOR SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL QUANTITIES WITH TWO SUPPLEMENTAL
QUANTITIES
QUANTITY UNIT SYMBOL
BASE UNITS
Length meter m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Electric Current ampere A
Temperature kelvin K
Luminous Intensity candela cd
Amount of Substance mole mol
SUPPLEMENTAL UNITS
Plane Angle radian rad
Solid Angle steradian sr

DERIVED UNITS FOR COMMON PHYSICAL QUANTITIES

QUANTITY DERIVED UNITS SYMBOL
Area square meter m2
Volume cubic meter m3
Frequency hertz Hz
Mass Density (Density) kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3
Speed, Velocity meter per second m/s
Angular Velocity radian per second rad/s
Acceleration meter per square second m/s2
Angular Acceleration radian per square second rad/s2
Force newton N
Pressure pascal P
Kinematic Viscosity square meter per second m2/s
newton-second per square
Dynamic Viscosity meter N-s/m2
Work, Energy, Quantity of Heat joule J
Power watt W
Quantity of Electricity coulomb C
Potential Difference, Electromotive
volt V
Force
Electric Field Strength volt per meter V/m
Electric Resistance ohm Ω
Capacitance farad F
Magnetic Flux weber Wb
Inductance henry H
Magnetic Flux Density tesla T
Magnetic Field Strength ampere per meter A/m
 Magnetomotive Force ampere A
Luminous Flux lumen lm
Luminance candela per square meter cd/m2
Illuminance lux lx
Wave Number per meter /m
Entropy joule per kelvin J/K
Specific Heat Capacity joule per kilogram kelvin J/kg-K
Thermal Conductivity watt per meter kelvin W/m-K
Radiant Intensity watt per steradian W/sr
Activity of a Radioactive Source per second /s

UNITED STATES CUSTOMARY SYSTEM UNITS

QUANTITY SI UNIT USCS UNIT
Length meter (m) foot (ft)
Mass kilogram (kg) slug (slug)
Time second (s) second (s)
Force (weight) newton (N) pound (lb)
Temperature kelvin (K) degree Rankine (°R)

MULTIPLES AND SUBMULTIPLES OF SI UNITS

PREFIX SYMBOL MULTIPLIER USE
tera T 1,000,000,000,000 = 10 12 1 terameter (Tm)
giga G 1,000,000,000 = 109 1 gigameter (Gm)
mega M 1,000,000 = 10 6 1 megameter (Mm)
kilo k 1,000 =103 1 kilometer (km)
centi c 0.01 = 10-2 1 centimeter (cm)*
milli m 0.001 = 10-3 1 millimeter (mm)
micro µ 0.000001 = 10 -6 1 micrometer (µm)
nano n 0.000000001 = 10-9 1 nanometer (nm)
- Å 0.0000000001 = 10-10 1 angstrom (Å)*
pico p 0.000000000001 = 10-12 1 picometer (pm)
*The use of centimeter and angstrom is discouraged, but they are still widely used.
CONVERSION TO USCS UNITS
1 inch (in) = 25.4 millimeters (mm)
1 foot (ft) = 0.3048 meter (m)
1 yard (yd) = 0.914 meter (m)
1 mile (mi) = 1.61 kilometers (km)
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
The accuracy of a measurement can be indicated by the number of significant figures or by a stated
uncertainty. The result of a calculation usually has no more significant figures than the input data. When
only crude estimates are available for input data, we can often make useful order of magnitude estimates.
RULE 1: When approximate numbers are multiplied or divided, the number of significant digits in the
reported result is the same as the number of significant digits in the least accurate of the factors. By “least
accurate,” we mean the factor having the lowest number of significant digits.
RULE 2: When approximate numbers are added or subtracted, the number of decimal places in the result
should equal the smallest number of decimal places of any term in the sum.
UNIT CONVERSIONS
RULE 1: If quantities are to be added or subtracted, they must be of the same dimensions.
RULE 2: The quantities on both sides of an equals sign must be of the same dimensions.
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY
1. Write the quantity to be converted.
2. Define each unit appearing the quantity to be converted in terms of the desired unit/s.
3. For each definition, form two conversion factors, one being the reciprocal of the other.
4. Multiply the quantity to be converted by those factors that will cancel all but the desired units.
SAMPLE PROBLEM:
Convert a speed of 60 km/h to units of meters per second?
SOLUTION: k
60 m 1h 1 min 1,000 m m
× × ×
h 60 min 60 s 1 km = 16.7s
SAMPLE PROBLEM:

Prove that x = v0t +12at2 is dimensionally correct.

SOLUTION:
x = v0t +12at2

m = ms (s) + 12 (sm2) (s)2

m = m + 12(m)
m=m
PHYSICAL QUANTITIES - any number that is used to describe a physical phenomenon quantitatively.
SCALAR QUANTITIES – is specified completely by its magnitude – a number and a unit.
EXAMPLES:
speed (15 m/s)
distance (50 km)
volume (100 L)

VECTOR QUANTITIES – is specified completed by its magnitude and direction – a number, a unit, and a
direction.
EXAMPLES:
displacement (20 m, N)
velocity (10 mi/h, 30°N of E)
THE POLYGON METHOD OF VECTOR ADDITION
The resultant vector is found by drawing each vector to scale, placing the tail of one vector to the tip of
another until all vectors are drawn. The resultant is the straight line drawn from the starting point to the
tip of the last vector.
THE PARALLELOGRAM METHOD OF VECTOR ADDITION
The resultant of two vectors is the diagonal of a parallelogram formed by two vectors as adjacent sides.
The direction is away from the common origin of the two vectors.
VECTORS AND VECTOR ADDITION
The x and y components of a vector (R, θ):
Rx = Rcos θ = Ax + Bx + Cx + ... Ry = Rsin θ = Ay + By + Cy + ... The
resultant of two perpendicular vectors Rx and Ry:
R = √R2x + R2y; θ = arctan|Ry/Rx|
PROBLEM SOLVING STRATEGY
1. Construct a rough vector polygon, drawing each vector at proportional lengths and angles. Indicate
the resultant as a line drawn from the tail of the first vector to the tip of the last vector.
2. Find x and y components of each vector, using trigonometry if necessary. Verify that the algebraic
signs are correct before proceeding.
Ax = Acos θ; Ay = Asin θ
3. Make a table of x and y components and add algebraically to find the magnitude and sign of the
resultant components:
Rx = Ax + Bx + Cx + ...
Ry = Ay + By + Cy + ...
4. Find the magnitude and direction of the resultant from its perpendicular components, Rx and Ry.

R = √R2x + R2y; θ = arctan|Ry/Rx|

SAMPLE PROBLEM:
Three ropes are tied to a stake, and the following forces are exerted: A = 20 N, E; B = 30 N, 30°N of W; and
C = 40 N, 52°S of W. Determine the resultant force using the component method.
VECTOR ANGLE X y
A=20 N 0° Ax = +20 N Ay = 0 N
Bx = -(30 N)(cos 30°) By = (30 N)(sin 30°)
B=30 N 30°
= -26.0 N = 15.0 N
Cx = -(40 N)(cos 52°) Cy = -(40 N)(sin 52°)
C=40 N 52°
= -24.6 N = -31.5 N
R θ Rx = Σ Fx = -30.6 N Ry = Σ Fy = -16.5 N
SOLUTION:
R = √R2x + R2

R = √(-30.6 N)2 + (-16.5 N)2

R=34.8N
θ = arctan|Ry/Rx|
θ = arctan|(-16.5 N)/(-30.6 N)|
θ = 28.3°S of W

SAMPLE PROBLEM:
What is the resultant of a 5-N force directed horizontally to the right and
a 12-N force directed downward?
R = √R2x + R2y
R = √(5 N)2 + (-12 N)2

R=13.0N
θ = arctan|Ry/Rx|
θ = arctan|(-12 N)/(5 N)|
θ = 67.4°S of E

PRODUCT OF VECTORS
The scalar product of two vectors ⃗A and ⃗B and is denoted by ⃗A ∙ ⃗B Because of this notation, the scalar
product is also called the dot product.

⃗A ∙ ⃗B = ABcos θ = |⃗A||⃗B|cos θ = AxBx + AyBy + AzBz

SAMPLE PROBLEM:
Find the scalar product ⃗A ∙ ⃗B of the two vectors. The magnitudes of the vectors are A = 4.00 and B = 5.00
when the angle of A is 53° and angle B is 130° from the x-axis.
SOLUTION:
⃗A ∙ ⃗B = ABcos θ
⃗A ∙ ⃗B = (4)(5)cos (130° - 53°) = 4.50
SOLUTION:
Ax = 4cos 53° = 2.40
 Ay = 4sin 53° = 3.195
Bx = 5cos 130° = -3.214
By = 5sin 130° = 3.830

⃗A ∙ ⃗B = AxBx + AyBy + AzBz

⃗A ∙ ⃗B = (2.407)(-3.214) + (3.195)(3.830) + (0)(0) = 4.50

The vector product of two vectors ⃗A and ⃗B and also called the cross product, is denoted by ⃗A × ⃗B.
C = ABsin θ
Cx = AyBz – AzBy
Cy = AzBx – AxBz
Cz = AxBy – AyBx
SAMPLE PROBLEM:
Vector ⃗A has magnitude 6 units and is in the direction of the x-axis. Vector
⃗B has magnitude 4 units and lies in the xy-plane, making an angle of 30° with the x-axis. Find the vector
product.
SOLUTION:
C = ABsin θ
C = (6)(4)sin 30° = 12
Ax = 6 Ay = 0 Az =0
Bx = 4cos 30° = 2√3 By = 4sin 30° = 2 Bz =0
SOLUTION:
Cx = AyBz – AzBy = (0)(0) – (0)(2) = 0
Cy = AzBx – AxBz = (0)(2√3) – (6)(0) = 0
Cz = AxBy – AyBx = (6)(2) – (0)(2√3) = 12
C=12